CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Marlon Hunter's first-career double-double helped the Jacksonville State men's basketball team to an 81-64 win over Southeast Missouri at the Show Me Center on Saturday.
 
The senior guard had career-highs in both points scored (27) and rebounds (12) during the Gamecocks (17-8, 9-3 OVC) 17-point road win over the Redhawks (8-17, 3-9 OVC).
 
"We had a lot of kids compete today," head coach Ray Harper said. "I thought we had some guys really step up. Marlon Hunter, obviously. He had a great day with 27 points and 12 rebounds."
 
"Our kids did what they needed to get a win today."
 
Hunter helped the Gamecocks to a 42-28 lead at the break with 19 first-half points. The Panama City, Fla., native set a new career-best within the first 20 minutes, hitting three 3-pointers. He came just two boards shy of earning his double-double in the first period.
 
In total, Hunter finished the game with five 3-pointers; three more than his previous career-high.
 
Trailing 5-4 three minutes into the game, Jacksonville State found its second gear and went on a 26-11 run over the following eight minutes to go up 30-15. Harper played a small five for part of the period, getting an extra four points from sophomore Derek St. Hilaire and five from freshman De'Torrion Ware off the bench.
 
Southeast Missouri began the second half with a 6-0 run, cutting the JSU advantage to eight, then found a 5-0 streak a few minutes later to shave the lead to eight again, but both times the Gamecocks answered and stretched their advantage back to double-figures.
 
Jacksonville State's lead reached a game-high 20 with 38 seconds left to play. A 3-pointer from SEMO's Gabe McGlothan saved the Redhwaks from taking a 20-point loss in the scorebook.
 
McGlothan paced Southeast Missouri with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Ledarrius Brewer pitched in 11 points from the guard position, and Alex Caldwell added 10 of the Redhawks' 23 bench points.
 
Jacksonville State now 9-2 in conference games this season, representing the best league record in the program's Division I history after 12 games played.
 
The Gamecocks play one road game and one home game next week, visit Tennessee Tech on Thursday while hosting Tennessee State on Saturday at Pete Mathews Coliseum. Saturday's tip time is set for 7 p.m. Both games will broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
Season tickets and single-game tickets are now available for purchase online at JSUGamecocksTickets.com, by phone at (256) 782-8499 and on campus at the JSU Ticket Office at Pete Mathews Coliseum. Children 18-years-old and under and JSU students are admitted free.
 
For more information on the JSU men's basketball team, follow the Gamecocks on Twitter (@JSU_MBB). For more on all Gamecocks sports teams, follow the official social media accounts of JSU Athletics on Twitter (@JSUGamecocks), Facebook (Facebook.com/JSUGamecocks), Instagram (@JSUGamecocks) and Snapchat (@JSUGamecocks).