WEDNESDAY'S SCORES
Jacksonville State 72, @Howard 59
Arkansas State 87,
@UT Martin 68
Middle Tennessee 79,
@Belmont 66
@Tennessee State 68, Alabama State 46
JACKSONVILLE STATE 72, HOWARD 59
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Jacksonville State Gamecocks picked up a 72-59 win over Howard University in the nation's capital Wednesday night, capping off a three-game road trip.
The sixth victory of the season brings JSU to the .500 mark with two games to play before the holiday break. The last time the Gamecocks had six wins before Christmas was 2014-15.
Four Gamecocks scored in double figures, including senior Erik Durham. The hot-shooting guard posted a team-high 19 points and hit six three-pointers, and freshman guard Tyrik Edwards dished out a team-high and career-best nine assists.
JSU was quick to claim a convincing lead, jumping on the Bison with a 13-2 run. Junior Norbertas Giga scored the first five points on a jumper and a three-pointer from the corner. Cross led Jacksonville State with eight points, going 4-for-7 from the field.
At the first media timeout of the opening half, the Gamecocks had a 13-4 advantage and had allowed just one Howard field goal. The defense went on to hold the home team to just 23 first-half points and a 33.3 field goal percentage. The Bison were limited two eight field goals (two from beyond the arc) in the period.
Jacksonville State took a 35-23 lead into the locker room at the half. The 12-point advantage is the largest lead the Gamecocks have held at the half against a Division I opponent this season. The previous high was 10 points, accomplished in the opener at Tulsa.
Howard gained ground on JSU to open the second period. Through the first 10 minutes, the Bison cut the lead to 48-39. At the second media timeout at 11:45, Howard had out-scored the Gamecocks 16-13. Shortly afterwards, the Bison cut it again to a half-best three points, 51-48. HU starting guard Dalique Mingo scored all 10 of his points during the rally.
After a called timeout by head coach Ray Harper, the Gamecocks found their groove and pulled away in the closing minutes. Giga hit back-to-back layups to help JSU back to a healthy lead. The Gamecocks out-scored Howard 37-36 in the closing period and restored its lead back to double digits.
ARKANSAS STATE 87, UT MARTIN 68
MARTIN, Tenn. (AP) - Devin Carter made a school-record 10 3-pointers and Arkansas State pulled away in the second half to beat UT Martin 87-68 on Wednesday night.
Carter finished with 33 points and his 10 treys, on 19 attempts, tops the nine made by three previous Red Wolves -- Adrian Banks in 2007 against Troy, Dewarick Spencer in 2003 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Tevoris Thompson in 2002 against Lyon. His 19 attempts exceeded Adrian Banks' 17 attempts against Troy on Jan. 13, 2007.
UT Martin's Javier Martinez tied it at 35 early in the second half, but the Red Wolves steadily pulled away. Carter hit back-to-back 3s and the Red Wolves led by 14, then by 22 on his 10th 3 with 4:39 to go.
Deven Simms scored 16 points and C.J. Foster added 14 points for the Arkansas State (8-2).
Martinez scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Skyhawks (8-4).
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 79, BELMONT 66
NASHVILLE - Belmont University men's basketball dropped a 79-66 decision to Middle Tennessee Wednesday night.
Belmont led 62-61 on a Dylan Windler 3-pointer, but Middle Tennessee closed the game on an 18-4 run.
Belmont closed within 69-66 on an Evan Bradds layin with 1:55 to go, but Middle Tennessee scored the final 10 points of the game.
Middle Tennessee raced out to a 13-0 lead before the Bruins closed within 31-28 after halftime.
Balanced scoring from Bradds, Taylor Barnette and Windler pushed Belmont to a 58-54 lead with roughly nine minutes left, before the Blue Raiders scored nine unanswered points.
Antwain Johnson and Tyrik Dixon - who entered play a combined 4-for-28 from behind the arc - teamed up for four 3-pointers on the night, including Dixon's devastating wing triple with 1:29 left.
Bradds led Belmont (4-4) with 21 points and 16 rebounds.
Reggie Upshaw had 21 for Middle Tennessee (10-1).
Belmont had won 80 of its previous 85 home games, dating back to 2010.
TENNESSEE STATE 68, ALABAMA STATE 46
NASHVILLE - The Tennessee State men’s basketball team put on a dominating defensive performance on Wednesday night at the Gentry Center, defeating visiting Alabama State by a 68-46 final score. Jordan Reed posted a team-high 13 points to go with 13 rebounds for Wayne Martin.
Tennessee State (8-2) held the Hornets (1-9) to 25.4 percent shooting (15-for-59) and limited ASU to 13 first-half points. The Tigers also finished with 10 blocks and forced 21 turnovers.
Tennessee State sprinted out of the gate with an early 8-2 advantage four minutes into the game. TSU’s defense locked the Hornets down as the Tigers’ lead grew to double-digits at 22-12 on the second first-half three from Darreon Reddick with 7:49 to go before halftime.
Tennessee State closed the first half on a 24-1 run, keeping the Hornets without a field goal for the last 8:47 of the half for a 40-13 halftime edge.
The Tigers held Alabama State to 18.5 percent shooting (5-for-27) in the first half and forced ASU in 11 first-half turnovers.
TSU reached 50 points in a frantic sequence where Christian Mekowulu (Lagos, Nigeria) and Xavier Williams had blocks on ASU's offensive possession leading to a three from Delano Spencer on the other end for a 50-19 lead with 14:20 left in the game.
The Tigers continued to dominate throughout the second half, leading by as many as 32 points with just over 12 minutes to play.
McCall dished out six assists to facilitate the offense with Mekowulu scoring in double figures with 12.
Tony Armstrong scored a team-best 13 points for the Hornets on the night.