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JACKSONVILLE - Jacksonville State's Rifle team will take aim at the 2014 Rifle National Championship this weekend as it competes in the NCAA Rifle Championships in Murray, Ky.

Hosted by Murray State University, the eight-team competition will take place Friday and Saturday, March 14-15. The smallbore competition, taking place on Friday, will be held in the Pat Spurgin Rifle Range. Saturday's air rifle competition will take place in the main arena of the CFSB Center.

This year's inclusion in the eight-team field is the 13th time that JSU has vied for the title.  The Gamecocks are making their fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA finals after missing in 2010.  In 2012, Jax State finished seventh overall and claimed fourth in 2011, including bronze in the smallbore.  JSU's best overall finish came at the 2005 edition of the NCAA Championships as Army edged the Gamecocks by one point, 4,659-4,658.  The Red and White finished runner-up in 2005 as Army edged the Gamecocks by one point, 4,659-4,658.

JSU, who claimed its eighth Ohio Valley Conference Rifle Title since joining the league in 2003-04, qualified for the NCAA meet after a stellar season. The top eight teams in both the smallbore three-position and air rifle events were selected based on the average of the three highest regular-season aggregate scores with no more than one match at any given site. The average of the three highest scores was added to the aggregate scores from the designated qualifiers to determine the top eight teams.

The Gamecocks have national championship experience as senior Sam Muegge will be competing in his fourth straight NCAA Rifle Championship.  The Gamecocks lost just one shooter off last year's team that finished eighth in Columbus, Ohio.

JSU's visit to Murray, Ky. will be its fifth of the season.  The Gamecocks faced Murray State and TCU in October, along with participating in the Withrow Invitational in January.  The Racers hosted the OVC Championships and the NCAA Qualifier match.

Live video and live results links will be available at JSUGamecockSports.com.