JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Led by a career-high 25-point outing by sophomore guard
Chris Lockett Jr., the Jacksonville Dolphins defeated EKU in overtime, 81-76.
The win improved JU to 8-13 overall and 3-5 in conference play. Dating back to last season, JU has now won four straight games over the Colonels. Jacksonville also improved to 2-0 this season in overtime contests, which both happened on home court inside Swisher Gymnasium.
Jacksonville found itself down 66-59 with under 3:30 to play in the game. But behind yet another solid free throw shooting performance -- 23-30 at the line -- tied the game up late. Lockett cemented taking the game to an overtime period with a jumper at the 31 second mark.
EKU had a chance to win the game at the rim, but solid down low defense by
Allen Udemadu forced the shot wide and into an extra five minutes. Udemadu then took that momentum into overtime, scoring four points and grabbing three rebounds to help seal the win.
In the first half, Jacksonville was in a hole early, down 8-0, and later down 15-3. Jacksonville took a 16-15 lead with 11 to play, but the Colonels kept the pressure and went into half up 37-34. Despite EKU's lead, it was the lowest scoring margin at the half by EKU this conference season.
The Dolphins and the visitors traded blows to open the second half until EKU got itself up six with under 10 to play. With under four to play, JU was staring at a seven-point deficit before the cardiac 'Phins closed the gap and won on home court.
Lockett's 25 points led the game and counted for his 11
th double-digit scoring effort this season. He previously had matched his career high of 18 in two games this season, a loss at FSU and win against UWG.
The guard finished with 10 makes from the field, a game-high and blowing away his career-high of six makes in a game which he set against West Georgia.
Lockett wasn't the only Dolphin notching a new career best mark, as forward
Donovan Rivers scored 17 before fouling out late in the game. Rivers played 28 minutes off the bench, finishing 6-10 from the field.
Evan Sterck also notched a career-high in scoring with 16. His previous high was 14 set in the team's first overtime victory of the year against FAMU at home.
Between Lockett, Rivers and Sterck the trio scored 58 of the team's 81 points. The trio also accounted for five steals, five boards and three assists. Lockett matched his career-high in steals with three.
The Dolphins have won two straight overtime games after entering the season on a four-game losing streak. The program has now won a pair of overtime games in one season for the first time since 2011.
As a whole, JU and EKU tied each other in rebounding with 29 each.
Jason Thirdkill Jr. logged eight with Udemadu right behind with seven. Thirdkill has five games in conference now with eight or more rebounds while Udemadu tied his JU-high in total rebounds.
Udemadu's 22 minutes were a season-high for the big and his first back-to-back games with double-digit minutes since the season openers against Miami and Trinity College of Florida. He has also scored 30 points in his last three contests.
In the past two games, JU has gone made 40 free throws out of 57 possible. The 23 makes on Thursday night tied the most makes all season for the Dolphins.
Jacksonville will carry its win momentum into next week, where the team has yet another pair of home contests. First up is a rematch with Lipscomb on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m.
Head Coach Jordan Mincy
