JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The Jacksonville Dolphins completed a season sweep over Bellarmine behind a 73-64 win Thursday.

With the win, JU (15-9, 9-3) has clinched a berth to the ASUN Tournament as at least one of the top 10 teams in the conference.

Jacksonville's victory came behind a career-high night from big man Stephon Payne III.

Payne scored a career-high 20 points on his most effective shooting performance of the season: 8-9 from the field and 4-4 from the charity stripe.

The junior forward led all scorers. He was followed closely behind in points by Zimi Nwokeji's 14, on 4-6 shooting from deep, and 12 points from freshman Chris Arias.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Jacksonville led for most of the contest, and got ahead early behind eight straight points from Payne on three of the team's first six possessions. 

The Dolphins mounted their largest lead of the night, 12 points, just a few possessions later but some scrappy play by Bellarmine kept the game close. At half, Jacksonville was up 35-32.

Head coach Jordan Mincy said he had choice words for his squad at the break. Out of the half, it looked like Mincy had rekindled the fire within his team. 

Jakari Spence immediately hit a jumper to start the second half. Payne followed with four points of his own.

Nwokeji buried a triple and then a layup, and just like that JU's lead had grown back up to 12 points. Bellarmine was unable to get the game closer than six points the rest of the stretch which JU rode into a guaranteed spot in the ASUN postseason.

Jacksonville had a banner night from the field, shooting 47.2%. The 'Phins went 8-23 from beyond the arc. Arias connected on two deep balls as did fellow freshman Kent Jackson who tied his career-high in scoring with six points. 

As has become customary for this Dolphin squad, Jacksonville won the rebounding battle. JU outrebounded the Knights 30-23 led by six rebounds each from Kendall Munson and Spence.

When outrebounding ASUN teams, Jacksonville is 9-1.

Munson, Spence, Jackson and Zach Bell all had six points in the contest. Donovan Rivers added two and Robert McCray V had one point in his first game back from illness after missing the win over Stetson.

COACH'S COMMENTS

GAME NOTES

• Jacksonville never trailed in the second half on its way to victory.
• The Dolphins shared the ball well, recording an assist on 76% of made field goals.
• The Jacksonville bench came alive by adding 23 points to its scoring output.
• Jackson recorded his first college block.
• Arias tied his career high assist number with two.
• Arias made a career high four free throws.
• Payne's eight made field goals set a career high.

NEXT UP
Jacksonville will now enter a week-long road trip across the country. The Dolphins travel to Central Arkansas on Thursday, Feb. 13 and then North Alabama on Saturday, Feb. 15. Next is a trip down to FGCU on Feb. 18 and a game at UNF on Feb. 20 before Jacksonville concludes the regular season with a pair of home matchups against EKU and Stetson.