Game Notes: Jacksonville State | South Alabama

JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State's men's basketball team returns to Pete Mathews Coliseum for the first game at home since Nov. 13 when the Gamecocks host in-state foe South Alabama on Saturday night.
 
JSU (3-3) welcomes one of the hottest teams in the country as the Jaguars enter with a 7-2 record and on a six-game winning streak. Incredibly, the two in-state opponents have only met three times before on the hardwood and USA will make its first visit to Jacksonville since the inaugural matchup in 1968. The two won't square off inside Stephenson Gymnasium this time, the previous home of Gamecock basketball prior to The Pete's arrival in 1974. The second all-time meeting was a Jaguar victory in Mobile in 1975, which stood for the longest time until last season's 77-73 JSU win in Mobile. The Gamecocks lead the series, 2-1.
 
Senior Darian Adams continues to pace the Jax State offense with 14.8 points per game as the only Gamecock to score 10-or-more each time out so far. Quickly emerging as another threat is senior newcomer Jalen Gibbs, who's fresh off his JSU Division I school record 40-point game at Elon to springboard his scoring average to 12 per game, while Demaree King still pitches in more than 10 points off the bench.
 
The Gamecock offense scored 93 at Elon last Saturday, but averaged just over 71 per game on a regular basis. The Jaguars enter averaging 77.3 points and a scoring margin of plus-18 while holding their opponents below 60 on average.
 
Saturday's tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. from Pete Mathews Coliseum, and broadcast on ESPN+.
 
JSU defeated Alabama A&M in its only previous home game this season, and has won five-straight at The Pete overall. Head Coach Ray Harper returns to the Bill Jones Court for the first time since becoming just the fourth Gamecock coach to reach 100 wins in The Bahamas during the Thanksgiving break.
 
Admission is free to all JSU students and fans ages 18 and under.