TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In the final non-conference tilt of the year for the Jacksonville men's basketball team, the Dolphins were defeated by FSU, 87-63.

Monday's game was the first meeting between the cross-state foes since 2015. The loss to the Seminoles moved Jacksonville to 5-8 on the season and 1-7 in true road games. JU ended its non-conference slate losers of three in a row, all on the road.

The Dolphins were led at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center by sophomore guard Chris Lockett Jr. who scored a career-high 18 points. Lockett went 50% from the field and connected on seven free throws, including four technical free throws, while also tying his career-high in rebounds with seven.

Lockett led the 'Phins in scoring and rebounding. The Louisiana native's double-digit scoring effort was his seventh such game this season and fifth in the last six games. His solid shooting at the charity stripe (94.1%) also leads the team. Lockett has not missed a free throw during a true road game and is 32-34 all season.

Joining Lockett in scoring was a 13-point game by freshman Hayden Wood. Wood scored 13 points, also on 50% shooting, and pulled down four rebounds in 28 minutes of play. During his first season of college hoops, Wood has five double-digit scoring games. Three of his last four contests have seen the frosh hit double-digits. He has also added at least three rebounds in six straight games and has grabbed four or more in five total games. 

Jacksonville went into halftime down 43-21 but came out firing in the second half. During the final 20 minutes of play, JU was outscored just 44-42. The Dolphins doubled their second half scoring production, outshooting FSU 47.1% to 45.5%.

FSU got the game to a 32-point margin about halfway through the first 10 minutes of the second period. Then, a technical foul on former Dolphin Robert McCray saw Lockett sink a pair of free throws. Those free throws were part of an 11-point scoring outburst from Lockett, all in a row, to help close the gap to 62-41. 

Jacksonville closed the gap to 21 points multiple times but couldn't close the gap fully.

The 'Phins did get big minutes from guard Simon Wheeler, who played just his second double-digit minute game of the season and first 10-plus minute game since Trinity College of Florida came to Swisher Gymnasium on Nov. 6. 

Wheeler finished with two points and a team-high three assist, also adding in a second half block. Despite playing in five games since the Trinity College of Jacksonville game, Wheeler's second half jumper was his first points scored since notching seven at home.

Allen Udemadu also provided a quick spark off the bench, dropping five straight points in the second half on just six minutes of play. Udemadu yanked down a pair of rebounds as well. His five total points were the second most scored by the transfer since joining JU in the summer.

Big men Charles Caporaso and Donovan Rivers each added six while Jacksonville native Chris Arias scored eight. 

Upon the conclusion of non-conference play, Jacksonville now sets its sights to ASUN competition. The first conference matchup of the season for JU is at ASUN Tournament Champion Lipscomb, who defeated JU in the school's only matchup last year inside Swisher Gym.

Tipoff against the Bisons is set for 2 p.m. EST on New Year's Day. The 'Phins next travel down the road to Clarksville, Tenn. To square off against Austin Peay on Jan. 3. The Governors ended their non-conference slate 5-5 while also leading the ASUN in points allowed per game (69.2).