FINAL STATS

JACKSONVILLE – Senior Nick Murphy scored 18 points for the Jacksonville State men's basketball team on Monday night, but Southeastern Louisiana took a 74-66 win from the Gamecocks at Pete Mathews Coliseum.

The Lions (2-1) won the battle on the boards and outshot the Gamecocks (1-3) in handing them their third loss in a row. Gary Dixon was 7-for-11 from the floor to lead four SLU players in double figures, while Roosevelt Johnson added a double-double of 10 points and 10 boards.

Murphy, a native of Bronx, N.Y., struggled from the floor but still managed to lead JSU in scoring. He also led the Gamecocks on the glass with seven boards to run his career total to 540, three shy of Rusty Brand's JSU Div. I record.

Junior Stephen Hall added 16 for the Gamecocks, while junior B.J. Miller and Freshman Brice Jenkins each scored eight in the loss. Junior Dominique Shellman dished five assists and Murphy swiped a pair of steals.

The Lions grabbed 38 rebounds to the Gamecocks' 29 and connected on 46 percent of their shots. JSU made just 42 percent from the floor. SLU went to the free throw line 31 times and took advantage, making 25 of them.

The Gamecocks will now travel to Normal, Ill., where they will compete in the Global Sports Roundball Classic on the campus of Illinois State. They will start the weekend against Louisiana-Monroe on Friday at 8:35 p.m. before taking on South Dakota at 8:35 p.m. on Saturday. JSU will close the trip on Sunday at 3:35 p.m. against the host Redbirds.