Recap: Eastern Ill vs. Jacksonville St

Charleston, IL (Sports Network) - Tarvin Gaines scored 22 points including the go-ahead 3-pointer with less than two minutes remaining as the Jacksonville State Gamecocks took care of the Eastern Illinois Panthers, 61-55, at Lantz Arena.

Brian Williams played a full 40 minutes for the Gamecocks (12-5, 4-2 OVC) and scored 16 points to go along with seven assists and five rebounds. JSU has now won four of its last six contests.

Sherman Blanford was the lone Panther (3-15, 0-5) in double figures with 10 points and seven boards off the bench. Austin Akers netted nine points and dished out five assists. EIU has not won a game since November, dropping 11 straight games.

The Gamecocks led 29-26 at halftime after shooting 47.6 percent from the floor in the first half.

After a back and forth second half, a free throw by Akers with 2:46 tied the score at 53-53. Both teams then went cold before Gaines found space and hit a triple to give JSU the lead back. Gaines and Ronnie Boggs then did their job at the foul line to keep EIU from coming back in the final moments.

Despite the loss, the Panthers reserves outscored the JSU bench, 25-9.