JACKSONVILLE, FL --Stephon Payne III collected his second straight double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to help lead the Jacksonville men's basketball team past the Central Arkansas Bears 72-62 at home Saturday. It was the fifth straight win for JU, marking a 5-1 start in ASUN conference play.
The Dolphins (11-7, 5-1) had three players score in double figures, led by Zimi Nwokeji, who had 14 points and two blocks. Robert McCray V tacked on 14 points and two steals and to go along with Payne's impressive night.
The Jacksonville offense was productive from beyond the arc, making 10 threes on 21 attempts. Nwokeji was the most prolific shooter for the Dolphins, draining three treys in the contest.
Jacksonville's defense held Central Arkansas to only 36.1 percent shooting from the field.
How It Happened
After falling behind 19-15, Jacksonville went on a 9-0 run with 3:19 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Chris Arias, to take a 24-19 lead. The Dolphins then maintained that lead and entered halftime with a 26-21 advantage. Jacksonville got a great contribution from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for 10 of its 26 total points.
Following intermission, Jacksonville kept widening that lead, expanding it to 43-37 before going on a 13-0 run, finished off by a McCray layup to grow the lead to 56-37 with 9:33 to go in the contest. The Bears narrowed the margin late, but the Dolphins cruised the rest of the way for the win. Jacksonville shot well from three-point range in the half, hitting seven shots from deep to score 21 of its 46 points.
Coach's Comments
Game Notes
- The Dolphins held the Bears to only 36.1 percent shooting from the field.
- Jacksonville never trailed in the second half on its way to victory.
- Jacksonville had a 41-31 edge on the boards in the win.
- Jacksonville cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 13 offensive boards in the game.
Next Up
The Dolphins will head on the road to face ASUN newcomer West Georgia on Thursday (Jan. 23) at 7:00 p.m. It will be the first matchup between the two programs with UWG moving into Division I and the ASUN conference in 2024.
