JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville men's basketball team got back to winning ways with its 63-43 win over Austin Peay on Wednesday night.
 
The Dolphins (11-11, 2-6 ASUN) played lights-out defense throughout the entire 40 minutes and hit double-digit three-pointers to claim their second conference win of the season. Working the glass to a T, Jacksonville outrebounded the Governors 33-22 overall. Stephon Payne III led the way with a career-high 12 rebounds, five of which were offensive boards. He also contributed eight points on the night.
 
In a first half that saw neither side get into a complete rhythm offensively, Jacksonville's defense held the Governors to 36.4% shooting and just 1-11 from deep. Through the under-12 timeout, Jacksonville led 12-9, and only three players had scored for the Dolphins: Stephon Payne III, who led the team at the time with four, Jarius Cook with three, and Donovan Rivers who had two. Across the next six minutes, Jacksonville scored all 13 points, giving them a 22-12 lead, which concluded with Gyasi Powell hitting a pair of triples to force an Austin Peay timeout.
 
Jacksonville's defense set the tone in the first half, holding Austin Peay to 19 points as the Dolphins had a 29-19 lead. This game marked the ninth in the Jordan Mincy era that JU has held an opponent to fewer than 20 points in the first half.
 
After Powell was hot in the first half, Cook began to catch fire to start the second. Leading the team through the opening seven minutes with six points, which included a shot clock-beating quick-fire triple, JU was able to build its largest lead of the night at the time, 43-29. From there on, the JU offense had a purpose for the remainder of the game. Deejuan Pruitt was hitting threes, Rivers slamming down dunks, and the defense was there to complement and help Jacksonville separate from Austin Peay and claim its second win in conference play.
 
 
UP NEXT
The Dolphins return to action in Nashville, Tennessee, this Saturday as they play Lipscomb. The game is slated for a 5 pm tipoff and can be watched on ESPN+ or heard on 1010XL.
 
WHAT THEY SAID


 
NUMBERS YOU SHOULD KNOW

• JU's 20 point victory is the largest margin of victory in an ASUN game since they held UNF to 19 points in the first half in February, 2022.
• The Dolphins also shot 50% from deep, which is the first time in conference play this season they've done so.
• McCray added six assists in a game for the third time this season, matching both a career and season high.