JACKSONVILLE – Washaun Ealey rushed for 146 yards and three touchdowns, Marques Ivory threw for two touchdowns and the defense held the most prolific offense in the conference to less than 100 yards in the second half as Jacksonville State outdueled Murray State 38-35 Saturday to give coach Jack Crowe his 100th career victory as a head coach.

The Gamecocks (5-3, 4-2 OVC) needed the victory to stay alive in the tight conference race. The loss basically eliminated Murray State (3-5, 2-3).

Ealey had his third most productive rushing day with the Gamecocks on a JSU career high 37 carries. He has had 70 carries the last two weeks combined. He scored on runs of 29, 1 and 2 yards.

Ivory completed 15 of 31 passes for 205 yards. His touchdown passes covered 41 yards to Telvin Brown and 4 yards to Alan Bonner.

Murray State quarterback Casey Brockman was 19 of 36 for 255 yards, becoming the OVC’s all-time leader in passing yards. He did not throw a touchdown pass and was intercepted three times. He came into the game with only five interceptions all season.

The Gamecocks took an early 7-0 lead on Ealey’s first touchdown, then didn’t lead again until Ealey’s third touchdown with 11:33 left in the third quarter.

Murray tied it with 4:04 left in the third quarter, then Griffin Thomas put the Gamecocks ahead for good with a 38-yard field goal with 8:51 to play.

From there, the Gamecocks held with a fourth-down stop, an interception and a sack on the final play of the game.