JACKSONVILLE – Seniors Darian Adams and Jalen Gibbs scored 24 and 21, respectively, as Jacksonville State rallied for its largest comeback of the season to down Lipscomb, 88-83, Tuesday night.
 
In the Gamecocks' (9-6, 2-0 ASUN Conference) first home ASUN game since 2003, JSU fell behind by as many as 20 in the second half before mounting a momentous comeback. The Bisons (8-10, 1-2 ASUN) ultimately saw their chance slip away when Demaree King drilled a corner three with 18 seconds remaining to put JSU ahead 86-83 amidst a ruckus arena.
 
Adams, a leader throughout the night, stuffed the stat sheet matching a career-high with 10 assists to go along with a team-high eight rebounds, finishing two shy of a triple-double. Senior Brandon Huffman had 14 points and seven boards, while Jalen Finch pitched in 10 points as the fourth Gamecock in double figures.
 
Despite a 13-6 lead out of the gate, JSU struggled to rest of the way in the first half as Lipscomb proceeded to put up 48 points in the opening 20 minutes. It was the second-most points allowed by JSU this season behind 50 to Valparaiso in the second half in The Bahamas, and it put the Gamecocks down by 14 at the intermission.
 
Huffman and Adams hit the opening shots of the second half to draw within 10, but two of Lipscomb's 11 threes on the night were part of a 10-0 stretch that forced a Gamecock timeout with 15:28 remaining with the Bisons on top 58-38.
 
In less than eight minutes of game action, JSU went on a 32-13 run to pull within a point of the Bisons and bring life to The Pete. Lipscomb staved off surrendering the lead for a few possessions, but eventually a three-point from Gibbs put the Gamecocks in front, 78-77 with under five minutes to play.
 
The score would tie at 80, 81 and 83, which is where it stood as time slipped under 60 seconds remaining. King, one of the hottest shooters in the nation, now shooting 75-percent (24-32) over his last four games, gave the ball up to Finch on the right wing and raced to the corner where he was surprising left alone to get the feed right back and bury the clutch triple with time winding down.
 
Lipscomb missed a three-point attempt on their next possession and Adams came away with the ball and tacked on some insurance free throws to close out the 88-83 come-from-behind victory.
 
JSU heads back on the road for ASUN play at Eastern Kentucky and Central Arkansas later this week.