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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Jacksonville State opened the second half with a 13-1 run as the Gamecocks blew open a two-point halftime contest to beat Eastern Illinois, 75-56, on Thursday night at Lantz Arena.
 
EIU fell to 7-15 overall, 3-8 in the OVC.  EIU returns to action on Saturday hosting Tennessee Tech at 3:15 p.m.  JSU improved to 17-7 overall, 8-3 in the OVC. 
 
JSU held a 31-29 halftime lead before opening the second half with a 13-1 run.  Christian Cunningham scored six straight points with two of the baskets coming on dunks following back-door cuts to the hoop.  Jamall Gregory converted a three-point play with 18:31 to play in the second half to push the lead to double digits at 40-29.  Marlon Hunter extended the run converting a turnover into a lay-up.
 
Ray Crossland broke the scoring run by the Gamecocks with a free throw with 18:01 to play and Montell Goodwin trimmed the lead back down to ten points with 15:29 to play on a jumper in the lane.  Goodwin was one of three Panthers to finish in double figures with 15 points. 
 
Cunningham quickly pushed the lead back to 12 points and Hunter added jumper to make it a 14 point JSU lead.  EIU would never get closer than 12 points the remainder of the game.
 
Cunningham posted a double-double for JSU with 12 points and ten rebounds.  Jason Burnell had 17 points and Gregory had ten points.  JSU finished the night shooting 51 percent from the field.
 
Mack Smith had 14 points for EIU giving the freshman five straight double figure scoring games.  Muusa Dama chipped in with 11 points as his free throws at 10:01 of the first half gave EIU an early 19-10 advantage.