JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University men's basketball grinded out another home win on Saturday night, prevailing 59-56 over Kennesaw State.
 
The Dolphins (18-8, 10-4) captured a 13th straight win at Swisher Gymnasium this season and moved one step closer to a first-round bye in the ASUN Basketball Championship in two weeks.
 
It was another strong start for JU, especially on the defensive side of the ball. After winning the tip, Kevion Nolan fed Osayi Osifo for an easy two to get the scoring started. JU led 6-0 before Kennesaw State got a pair of free throws, and did not allow the Owls to score a field goal until a three-pointer with 14:08 to play in the first.
 
After leading 14-6 on a Nolan three, KSU hit consecutive three-pointers to cut the lead to two, 14-12. JU responded with a 9-2 run, capped by four-straight Bryce Workman buckets to lead 23-14 just over halfway through the opening half.
 
Kennesaw State rallied, scoring 10 straight to take its first lead of the night with 4:42 remaining in the first, but the Dolphins were able to draw fouls and converted from the stripe, making all 10 of its first half free throws, including eight over the final four minutes of the half, and led 33-26 at halftime.
 
The two teams traded buckets to start the second half, and KSU tied it at 42 with a three with 12:57 to play. Nolan hit a jumper and Workman added a hook shot to put JU back in front, but the Owls tied it again with another three with 9:28 left. That was the fourth and final three-pointer KSU made in the second half.
 
Workman hit a pair of free throws with 9:08 remaining to give JU a lead it would not relinquish, but it was a nail-biter down the stretch. Osayi Osifo has an offensive rebound putback to give the Dolphins a 55-52 lead with 5:06 to play and neither team scored until Tyresse Davis sank a pair of free throws with 2:02 left.
 
KSU made two layups to cut it to one, 57-56 with 11.7 seconds remaining, but Nolan was fouled on the inbound, made both free throws, and a three-pointer at the buzzer banked off the backboard off for the Owls.
 
UP NEXT
 
Jacksonville hosts crosstown rival North Florida for River City Rumble Pt. II in the regular season home finale on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
 
NUMBERS YOU SHOULD KNOW
 

• JU attempted 25 free throws, the fourth time they have attempted 25 or more in a game this year, and most since 27 attempts at North Alabama on Feb. 3
• The Dolphins shot 80 percent from the stripe, the second-best percentage on 15 or more attempts this season
• Tyreese Davis set a career-high with seven made free throws
• Kevion Nolan scored in double-figures for the 14th time this season, Bryce Workman for the 11th and Jordan Davis for the 12th
• The 13 straight wins at Swisher Gym match the most recorded in history, tying the mark set from the end of the 2014-15 season through the first 12 games of the 2015-16 year