JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The Jacksonville Dolphins are back in the win column after a gritty 59-55 win over Eastern Kentucky.

JU (17-12, 11-6) completed the season sweep over EKU and have now won three straight over the Colonels dating back to last season.

Robert McCray V was in classic form Monday night, putting up his first career double-double. McCray finished with 15 points and a new career-high 10 rebounds. The junior guard grabbed all his boards on the defensive side.

McCray's rebound numbers also led the game. His scoring led the team.

Joining McCray was fellow guard Zach Bell, who had a 12-point night. Bell also stole four balls and grabbed four rebounds.

Bell had arguably the biggest shot of the game where he put back a McCray 3-point attempt that McCray shot to avoid a shot clock violation. Bell caught the ball off the rim and kissed it off the glass to put JU ahead 56-53 with 38 ticks to play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

Jacksonville led for over 15 minutes in the first half, only trailing for 95 seconds in the opening 20 minutes. McCray led all scorers with nine points at the break, while point guard Jakari Spence led all players with five rebounds.

It was not a banner night offensively for either team, but JU held EKU to 35% from the field in the first half and below 28% from beyond the arc. 
Whereas in recent weeks the Dolphins have been getting into early foul trouble, JU put EKU on the line for just three shots of which the Colonels made just one.

Jacksonville held onto its lead until the 12:04 mark in the second half, where an EKU 3-pointer put the visitors ahead 39-37. The 'Phins regained the lead after a Kendall Munson layup, to go ahead 50-48. A McCray 3-pointer put the home squad ahead 53-48 one possession later and JU never trailed for the final four minutes of play.

Without Stephon Payne III once again, JU actually lost the battle of the boards 35-34. Jacksonville was just 1-4 in conference games when losing the rebounding war prior to Monday.

JU finished the game shooting 39.1% with McCray leading the team in makes with five. McCray's double-double was much needed, as it snapped Jacksonville's three-game losing streak and kept JU in the hunt for a home playoff game.

If Jacksonville defeats Stetson on Wednesday, it will at worst be the #4 seed in the ASUN Championship and will guarantee a home playoff game.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS

GAME NOTES

• The Jacksonville defense forced 14 turnovers and scored 12 points off those turnovers.
• JU put up 14 second-chance points to EKU's seven.
• Kent Jackson went 2-2 from the field, scoring both his shots from distance.
• McCray was recongized for scoring 1,000 career points at Jacksonville and in his NCAA career prior to the game.

NEXT UP
The final game of the regular season for JU will be played on Wednesday, Feb. 26 against Stetson at 7 p.m. The game is senior night for the team's three graduating players: Zimi Nwokeji, Munson and Spence.