FLORENCE, Ala. – The Jacksonville Dolphins earned their first ASUN road win of the season Saturday afternoon, toppling North Alabama, 90-68.
The win moved JU to 7-12 overall and 2-4 in ASUN play. Jacksonville hadn't won inside Flowers Hall in Florence since 2022 prior to Saturday. In Jacksonville's two ASUN wins, the Dolphins have absolutely dominated with the combined scoring margin of Jacksonville's pair of conference victories at 55 points total.
For the second consecutive game, freshman guard
Hayden Wood lead the way in the scoring department. Wood posted his second straight 18-plus point contest, notching a career-high 25 points. Wood hit his career high behind a 6-7 shooting performance from range after nailing four 3-pointers at Central Arkansas.
Wood converted an and-1 in the game's opening five minutes to put Jacksonville ahead 9-7. After a UNA 3-pointer, JU mounted a 10-0 run to seize a 19-10 lead. The JU offense didn't allow UNA to catch up, going into the stoppage ahead 48-31. Jacksonville's largest lead of the half was up at 20 points after an
Evan Sterck and-one conversion.
Jacksonville's 48 first half points were its most in a half in conference play thus far.
Out of the break,
Jason Thirdkill Jr. nailed both of his free throws before Wood scored five straight. For the rest of the second half, Jacksonville flirted with multiple 20-plus point leads, getting the game up to a 23-point lead but never lower than a 13-point margin.
Outside of Wood,
Charles Caporaso posted a excellent game down low with 13 total points. Caporaso's 13 accounted for his most points scored against a D1 opponent this season and second most points scored overall. Coupled with that, Caporaso hauled in eight rebounds which too was his career-best mark against a D1 team and second best all year.
Also around the glass,
Allen Udemadu emerged and scored 12 points. Udemadu had played just 12 total minutes in conference before Saturday's tilt but played nine against the Lions. His 12 points scored marked his most in a JU uniform while also hauling in four rebounds, his fourth game of four or more rebounds as a 'Phin.
The Lagos, Nigeria native got his point total behind a 5-6 shooting performance and a perfect 2-2 showing at the stripe. Udemadu and Caporaso represented a majority of Jacksonville's 42 points scored off the bench and 46 total points in the paint.
As has been the case in five of Jacksonville's six ASUN games, the Dolphins won the battle of the boards. JU outrebounded UNA 34-23. Behind Caporaso and Udemadu's 12 combined rebounds, five JU players also grabbed three boards. The only game Jacksonville hasn't outrebounded its opponent was West Georgia, getting edged by a single board but winning the game by 32 points.
Chris Lockett Jr. finished with nine points on an efficient 4-5 shooting. The sophomore guard also dished four assists. Sterck finished with eight, also adding three rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Jaylen Jones scored five points, but most of his damage was done on the defensive end by tying his career high in steals with four. He's now snagged four balls twice in conference play and was part of a nine-steal night for the JU defense. That same Jacksonville defense also limited UNA star Cornelius Williams to just three makes from the field all game.
In six conference games so far this season, Jacksonville has actually outscored their opponents 401-397, despite the team's three losses.
Looking to build off Saturday's big win, the Dolphins return to the friendly confines of Swisher Gymnasium for four straight home games to end the month of January. First, JU hosts Bellarmine on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. and EKU on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 3 p.m. The Dolphins later play host to Lipscomb and FGCU.
Last season, JU posted a 5-0 record against Bellarmine and EKU combined, beating the Knights twice and going 3-0 against the Colonels including an ASUN Tournament win at home.
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