Monday night, the Jacksonville University Men's Basketball Team (18-12, 12-6) began their final home games of the regular season with a victory over Eastern Kentucky (18-13, 11-7).
The Dolphins, led by star forward Robert McCray V, secured a narrow 59-55 win. The matchup marked the first time EKU was held under 60 points and only the second time JU scored below 60 during conference play.
It was a heavyweight battle, with the winner gaining a legitimate shot at hosting a conference tournament game. The back-and-forth contest saw nine lead changes and nine ties.
JU shot 45% from three-point range in the first half, hitting 5-11 attempts, but went into the locker room with only a four-point lead.
McCray contributed significantly, making five from the field and three free throws, finishing the game with 15 points. He also achieved a career-high 10 rebounds, marking his first career double-double. In addition, he provided two assists, one block and one steal.
With 40 seconds left in the game and JU up by one, the Dolphins missed a three-point attempt. However, guard Zach Bell soared through the lane to grab his second offensive rebound and quickly laid it in, putting his team up by three.
Bell commented postgame, "It felt good to get one [offensive rebound] in a crucial moment," noting the coaching staff had emphasized the importance of rebounding before that game as it had all season.
Jacksonville then finished the regular season strongly, securing a 79-72 victory over in-state rival Stetson.
Senior forward Kendall Munson had another impressive performance, scoring 17 points on an efficient 60% shooting. He also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds and logged a season-high 33 minutes.
Since joining the starting lineup on Feb. 6 in the first matchup against Stetson, Munson has averaged 29 minutes, over 14 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, shooting an impressive 58% from the field.
Bell also shined in JU's second win against Stetson, posting 10 points on 4-7 shooting, along with six rebounds and a career-high seven assists. He also finished the game with two steals.
Head coach Jordan Mincy praised Bell, calling him the "best primary ball handler defender in the league," and noted that Bell plays with high effort, always chasing after loose balls while being a vocal leader for the team.
Forward Tito Deng provided impact minutes in the first half Wednesday. A fan favorite, Deng is known for bringing energy to the team and his "overall character," as Mincy described him.
The energetic forward scored five points from 2-6 shooting and added six rebounds. Mincy added that the student section loves to cheer for Deng's pull-up three-pointers, providing his team an instant boost of energy.
JU celebrated Senior Night Wednesday, honoring three of its veterans: Munson, Jakari Spence and Zimi Nwokeji.
Reflecting on the seniors' impact on the program, Mincy stated, "It's been such a blessing."
Mincy said his staff was able to, "find character, who value the whole rather than themselves," in the three portal additions, high praise directed at the talented trio of upperclassmen.
Freshman guard Chris Arias noted after the second Stetson win that the seniors are leaders "on and off the court" and often engage in "man-to-man" conversations with the younger players. He emphasized that they have been, "great for the program."
Jacksonville finished the regular season tied for fourth place in the ASUN Conference standings. The Dolphins went 12-6 in league play, the most conference wins by the men's baseball team since the 2010-2011 season.
Jacksonville is back inside Swisher Gymnasium for round one of ASUN tournament play. They will face a familiar foe in Eastern Kentucky with the game tipping at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
