SIU-Edwardsville tops Jacksonville St 73-57 in OVC

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) Rozell Nunn led a balanced attack with 16 points and SIU-Edwardsville opened Ohio Valley Conference play on Thursday with a 73-57 win over Jacksonville State.

Michael Messer and Kris Davis added 13 points apiece for the Cougars (5-7) and Keaton Jackson had 10 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Nunn had seven rebounds and three assists. Edwardsville shot 54 percent from the field.

JaQuail Townser had 11 points for the Gamecocks (7-8), who shot just 34 percent and made 12 of 20 free throws.

C.J. Carr had four free throws in a 6-0 burst late in the first half that put the Cougars ahead by double figures and they went into the half ahead 35-22.

The closest Jacksonville State got was nine points early in the second half, but Jackson and Messer combined for the first 10 points in a 12-0 run over five minutes to break it open.