Sophomore forward Nick Mayo had 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists and a career-high seven blocks to lead the Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team past host Jacksonville State, 57-52, on Thursday night at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
EKU (9-14, 2-6 OVC) ramped up the defense to secure the crucial road victory. The Colonels blocked a season-high 13 shots and stifled the Gamecocks to 30 percent (18-of-60) shooting from the field, their second-worst shooting performance of the season.
EKU’s 13 blocks are the most by a Colonel team in over 14 years. Mayo’s seven blocks are the most by a Colonel since Eric Stutz had seven at Southeast Missouri on February 2, 2013.
Freshman guard Asante Gist finished with 13 points, while junior forward Zach Charles contributed 11 points, six rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
The game was tied, 39-39, following a three-pointer by JSU’s Greg Tucker with 9:10 remaining in the game; however, a three-pointer by senior Isaac McGlone sparked EKU on a 14-5 run and the Colonels grabbed a nine-point advantage, 53-44, when McGlone sank a foul shot with 1:02 on the clock.
Jacksonville State (13-10, 5-3) tried to rally in the final minute, as a three-pointer by Erik Durham made it a four-point game, 56-52, with 11 seconds on the clock. But, Mayo sank a free throw on one end, and Durham’s desperation three-pointer on the other end missed, giving Eastern only its second true road win of the season.
The win snapped EKU’s five-game losing streak.
EKU shot 40 percent from the field (19-of-48). The Colonels out-rebounded the Gamecocks, 41-38.
Christian Cunningham paced Jacksonville State with a double-double of 11 points and 15 rebounds.
EKU came out firing on all cylinders and took its largest lead of the night, 25-14, when Mayo knocked down a pair of free throws with 3:10 remaining in the first half.
The Gamecocks, however, closed out the half on an 8-2 run to close the gap to six, 27-21, at the break.
JSU carried that momentum into the second half, as the hosts opened the second stanza on a 7-0 spurt and took the lead, 28-27, following a dunk by Cunningham with 18:02 on the clock.
It was the Gamecocks’ final lead of the game.
Eastern exploded on a 9-2 run and went ahead by seven, 37-30, when Mayo came down the lane for a dunk. The Colonels never trailed again.
EKU returns to action on Saturday when the Colonels face Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.
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Steve Fohl
Associate Director of EKUSports Communications
