JACKSONVILLE – The celebration was delayed as referees huddled around a video monitor, but the Jacksonville State women's basketball team eventually had its time to celebrate a thrilling 69-68 victory over Morehead State.
 
After failing to score a go-ahead basket during what was almost the final possession of the game, the Gamecocks had one last inbounds with 0.9 remaining on the clock trailing by one. Jacksonville, Ala., local product, Lacey Buchanon, literally became a hometown hero as her catch-and-shoot from just in front of her bench found the bottom of the net after the final horn sounded. Referees immediately convened around a replay monitor at the scorer's table where confirmation came that the basket counted.
 
JSU (10-11, 3-6 Ohio Valley Conference) battled all day with the second-place team in the OVC in a game which featured seven ties and 12 lead changes. The largest lead for either side was just eight points, which for Morehead State (16-6, 6-3 OVC), came in the fourth quarter as the Eagles took a 60-52 lead with 7:01 remaining.
 
Her final two will make the headlines, but Buchanon tallied 20 points overall for the day to lead a group of four Gamecocks who finished in double figures. Rayven Pearson added 17 points and eight rebounds in 25 minutes of action, while Tasha Magruder and Briana Benson finished with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
 
Despite a solid 14-assist day, JSU shot just 28 percent from the floor. However, Rick Pietri's squad was 22-28 (79%) from the free throw line for a team that's struggled in that area this season. The 22 free throws to just 23 field goals kept JSU close throughout.
 
Early on it looked as though the Gamecocks would pick up their second-straight OVC win in a slightly easier manner as the home team rolled out to a 12-4 advantage in the opening minutes. It was an 18-2 MSU run from that point which handed the Eagles the lead midway through the second quarter. Perhaps foreshadowing what was to come, JSU took the lead with under a second to go in the first half as Benson sank three-consecutive free throws with 0.4 on the clock after being fouled on her final attempt. The Gamecocks took a 32-30 lead into halftime.
 
Out of the break JSU went up 36-30, but MSU used a quick 9-0 run to reclaim the lead. The two teams swapped scores into the fourth period before the Eagles gained the largest separation of the afternoon with an eight-point lead. A 10-2 streak for the Gamecocks evened things up at 62 with 3:19 left to play. MSU took its final lead at the 1:23 mark and maintained the margin all the way until Buchanon's final attempt.
 
The Gamecocks will look to make it three straight wins on Wednesday as they host the Redhawks of Southeast Missouri State at 11:30 a.m. in the annual :Education Day" at The Pete.