RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team hopes to end its four-game losing streak Thursday night when the Colonels host Jacksonville State. The game, sponsored by Pattie A. Clay Medical Regional Center, is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m.

Eastern Kentucky’s (7-7, 1-3 OVC) four OVC games thus far have been decided by an average of five points. The Colonels almost pulled off a huge comeback victory over Austin Peay Monday night, but could not quite overcome a 16-point first half deficit in an 82-79 setback. Freshman Joshua Jones scored a personal-high 20 points against the Governors. The guard became the fifth Colonel to make at least four three-pointers in a game this season, joining senior Mike Rose, junior Papa Oppong, junior Josh Taylor and sophomore Justin Stommes.

Jacksonville State is one of the surprise teams in the conference this year. Picked at the bottom of the preseason league poll, the Gamecocks currently sit at 8-4 overall and 2-1 in league action. JSU has key non-conference wins over Massachusetts and VMI while also coming within six points of victory at Iowa State. Four players are averaging double-figures scoring including leading scorer Jeremy Bynum (12.0 ppg). Nick Murphy ranks third in the OVC in shooting (53.1 percent).

Eastern Kentucky is 5-0 versus the Gamecocks at home and leads the all-time series, 6-5. In last year’s 71-55 win over JSU in McBrayer Arena, the Colonels held the Gamecocks to just 14 first half points. Darnell Dialls finished with a team season-high nine assists that day as well.

Following the Jacksonville State game, Eastern Kentucky concludes its brief two-game home stand on Saturday, Jan. 10, against Tennessee Tech.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Game Notes
--Click here for game notes!

Television
--None

Video Streaming
--Thursday’s game can be seen on the web as part of OVCSports.tv. The cost is $5.95. Click here for live video stream!

Live Audio
--Thursday’s game can be heard locally on WCYO 100.7 FM and WEKU 88.9 FM. Click here for live radio broadcast!

Live Stats
--Click here for live stats!

Tickets
--Tickets are available by calling the EKU ticket office at 859-622-2122. The ticket box office will open at 4:30 p.m., one hour prior to the women’s contest. Arena doors will open at 4:30 p.m., as well.

Storylines
--Over the last four games, the opposition is averaging 77.5 points per game and shooting 48.4 percent from the floor. In the first 10 games of the season, EKU held the opposition to 58.7 ppg and 42.1 percent shooting from the field.

--Senior Mike Rose needs 25 more points to earn a spot in EKU’s career top-10 scoring list. Rose currently has 1,418 points. The guard also needs just 12 more three-pointers to crack the OVC career top-10 three-point list. Rose has made 215 trifectas in his four years at EKU.