Redhawks Close Season With Loss To Jacksonville State

Feb. 25, 2006

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Jacksonville State, playing for a home court berth in the opening round of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament, shot a red hot 53% fromt he field and 56% from three in an 80-67 win over Southeast Missouri State.

The Gamecocks, 15-12 overall and 12-8 in the OVC, dominated the first half in building up a 45-23 halftime lead. They shot 59% from the field and 66% from three while holding Southeast to just 25% ffrom the field and 13% from three.

Jacksonville State built the lead to 38 points at 52-24 with 18:00 minutes remaining, but the Redhawks wouldn't go away. Southeast, 7-20 overall and 4-16 in the OVC, battled back behind the 3-point shooting of Terrick Willoughby and Eric Jones to cut the lead to only six points 71-65 with 3:44 remaining. Willoughby was 5-6 from three while Jones was 2-3.

B.J. Spencer, who led all scorers with 21 points, silenced the Southeast comeback with a 3-pointer and the Gamecocks held on for the victory and a first round playoff game in the OVC tournament. Walker Russell had 15 points and eight assists for the Gamecocks while Courtney Bradley and Dorien Brown each added 13.

Roy Booker, the leading scorer int he OVC, led Southeast with 18 points while Willoughby added 18 and Jones had 10.