JACKSONVILLE – Junior Kiana Johnson had a career-high 19 points to lead JSU to a dramatic win over Tennessee Tech in the home finale of the 2019-20 season.
 
The win pulled JSU (14-15, 10-8 Ohio Valley Conference) even with the Golden Eagles (17-12, 10-8 OVC) in the league standings on the last day of the season, and hands Jax State the tiebreaker by way of the win. The bid for the fifth seed, which was only going to JSU or TTU on Saturday, proved critical for JSU who now won't play until next Thursday and will avoid the top three seeds in its first game.
 
Along with Johnson's 19 points, the Decatur, Georgia, native, also matched a career-best with seven boards, but none bigger than the final one with six seconds remaining after the Golden Eagles missed on their final attempt to tie it up.
 
Up by nine midway through the fourth quarter, JSU saw its lead slowly shrink in the final minutes until Tech hit a pair of free throws with 42 seconds remaining to pull within two. After JSU missed a jumper, the Golden Eagles brought the ball across the time line and used a timeout to draw up a final attempt with 16 seconds to play. Off the inbounds, JSU guarded the perimeter well and forced TTU to drive to the basket where TTU Abby Buckner missed a running layup. Johnson came out of a huddle with the rebound before getting fouled. She tacked on an insurance free throw on the other end just before Tech took one last heave at the buzzer that banged off the backboard.
 
On senior day, graduate-senior Destiney Elliott joined Johnson in double figures with 12 points, while McKenna Lawrence added eight, Chloe Long pitched in six and Brittany Webster put up four big second-half points. Long's five rebounds trailed only Johnson and Elliott with seven each, and moved the Hazel Green, Ala., native up to 694 for her career. She can become just the seventh Gamecock all-time with 700 rebounds with a strong tournament performance.
 
The Golden Eagles looked to play spoiler early, holding a 30-25 lead with a few minutes left to play before halftime. The Gamecocks pieced together a quick 6-0 run before the break capped by a triple from Lawrence to push JSU ahead by one.
 
In the second half, JSU slowly built its advantage, leading up to a 51-42 advantage with under six minutes to play in the contest. From there Tech made its late charge that was ultimately cut short by big buckets from Johnson down the stretch who scored the last five JSU points of the game.
 
With the rest of Saturday's results the Gamecocks have solidified their seeding and schedule for the 2020 OVC Basketball Championship in Evansville next week. Jax State will open play on Thursday, March 5 at 1 p.m. against the Panther of Eastern Illinois. EIU went 18-11 during the regular season and 12-6 in conference play to earn the No. four seed. JSU 55-52 on the road to EIU on January 16 in the only matchup of the season.
 
More tournament information will be released through the Gamecocks' social media and on JSUGamecockSports.com in the coming days. Fans can purchase tickets through the the JSU ticket office at 256-782-8499 (256-782-TIXX).