Joshua Jones scored a season-high 17 points and Eastern Kentucky held off Jacksonville State 59-53 in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both teams.
Jaron Jones added 16 points and Eric Stutz had 15 for the Colonels (7-5), who made 15 of 16 free throws in the second half. Jaron Jones made of 12 of 14 from the line for the game.
Eastern Kentucky led by as many as 12 points in the first half and held a 31-22 halftime lead after shooting 59.1 percent (13 of 22) from the field. The Colonels shot 46.3 percent (19 of 41) for the game.
The Gamecocks (3-8) tied the score 39-39 in the second half, but Eastern Kentucky answered with a 9-0 run to take the lead for good at 48-39. The Colonels used free throw shooting to hold on down the stretch.
Brian Williams scored 11 points to lead the Gamecocks.
