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JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team opened Ohio Valley Conference action Saturday night with a 59-53 win at Jacksonville State. Senior Joshua Jones poured in a season-high 17 points in the winning effort.

Jacksonville State’s (3-8, 0-1 OVC) only lead of the game came at 9-7 early in the opening half. The Colonels (7-5, 1-0) responded with a 9-2 run, capped by back-to-back buckets from freshman Eric Stutz, to take the lead for good. Eastern shot 59.1 percent (13-of-22) from the floor and forced seven Jacksonville State turnovers in the first 20 minutes to take a 31-22 lead into halftime.

A Jones lay-up early in the second stanza pushed the Colonel advantage to 11 points, 35-24. However, Eastern Kentucky went the next 10:34 without making a field goal. That cold stretch allowed Jacksonville State to eventually even the score at 39-all, but the Colonels never surrendered the lead.

Another Jones bucket, this time with 7:18 remaining, ended the field goal drought and pushed the EKU lead to six points, 45-39. Jones came through with a three-pointer on the following possession to make the score, 48-39.

The Gamecocks would not go away and closed the gap to two points on numerous occasions, and even one point in the final minute, but Eastern’s free throw shooting allowed the Colonels to hold on for the win. EKU made its first 15 free throws and 15-of-16 (93.8 percent) charity shots overall in the second half.

Besides his 17 points, Jones also hauled in a career-high eight rebounds. Stutz chipped in with 15 points, 13 of which came in the first half. Meanwhile, senior Jaron Jones reached double figures in points for the 10th straight game with 16 points.

Brian Williams was the lone Gamecock player in double figures with 11 tallies. Jacksonville State played without two key players as its leading scorer Tarvin Gaines (12.0 ppg) was sidelined with a concussion while leading rebounder Stephen Hall (5.9 rpg) was out with an ankle injury.

The Colonels return to non-conference action on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at Arkansas. Tip time is set for 8 p.m. ET.