JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville University men's basketball season ended Wednesday afternoon, as the #9 Dolphins fell to #8 Bellarmine, 82-79, in the opening round of the ASUN Tournament.

Jacksonville weathered a 19-point second half lead by the Knights, outscoring Bellarmine by 12 in the second half, but couldn't close the door in the game's waning seconds. The loss ended the JU men's hoops season with a 12-20 overall season record and a 7-11 regular season ASUN record.

After a 23-point showing at UNF Arena on Saturday, sophomore guard Chris Lockett Jr. dazzled once more across town with a 22-point outing to finish second on the team in scoring. Lockett collected 15 of his points in the second half, draining a pair of triples as part of a 20-6 run by Jacksonville that saw the 'Phins retake the lead with under 10 minutes to play in the game.

Lockett was joined in scoring by freshman guard Hayden Wood's 23 points. Wood ended his freshman campaign with ASUN All-Freshman Team nod and another night leading his team in scoring. He and Lockett combined for 17 makes from the field. Wood scored 12 of his total in the second half. 

The first half was one that favored those clad in maroon, as JU went into the break down 47-32. Coming out of the break, Bellarmine got its lead up to 19 points before the Jacksonville offense came alive.

Chris Arias buried a triple, followed by a Wood layup plus a free throw. Jaylen Jones sunk a triple then Lockett stole a pass away which he got ahead to Jaylen Jordon for two. Just like that, Jacksonville was down only 11 after Bellarmine's largest lead of the game and found itself well within striking distance.

Lockett connected on two straight triples to cut the lead to eight, followed by jumpers from Lockett, Wood and Jones to get the game to 62-60.

It was then Lockett who tied the game at 62 apiece with 9:18 to play in the game. In the second half to that point, Jacksonville had outscored Bellarmine 28-15 to get the game to a tie.

Arias, who finished his night with eight points, found nylon from deep to give JU a 4-point lead with eight minutes left. With 6:36 on the board, Jones dropped in a triple to give JU a 72-67 lead with 6:36 remaining. 

Both teams traded blows down the stretch before what could be considered Wood's biggest shot of his life: a rising dead ahead triple with 82 seconds to play to give his team a roaring 79-76 lead, its last of the game.

In Jacksonville's final action of the 2025-26 season, the Dolphins led the rebounding battle 37-29. Senior Jason Thirdkill Jr. pulled down a game-high nine boards to go with eight points. Thirdkill ended his lone season with the Dolphins with 11 ASUN games, and 12 games overall, snagging eight or more rebounds.

Wood finished second on the team in boards with half a dozen. The Arkansas native finished fourth on the team in total boards with 101 and fourth on the team in rebounding average with 3.2 grabbed per game. He had six games across his freshman year with five or more rebounds.

Lockett came alive when Jacksonville needed him most over the team's final two games. He combined for 55 points and 18 made baskets in his final two outings, sinking eight 3-pointers and grabbing 11 total rebounds. Lockett's pair of 20-plus point games represented two of his three total 20-plus point outings all season, just behind his 25-points against EKU which set his collegiate career high in scoring. 

By game's end Jones finished with 14 points, five rebounds and 6-11 shooting. He dished a game-high seven assists. Jones wrapped up his first year as a 'Phin with three games over seven assists, including two in conference.

By way of its win, Bellarmine advances to the ASUN Quarterfinals to face #1 seeded Central Arkansas Friday afternoon. For more information regarding the rest of the ASUN Tournament, hosted in Jacksonville, click HERE.