KENNESAW, Ga. – It was no easy task just across the state line, but Jacksonville State survived 10 lead changes on the road at Kennesaw State to win 70-64 and push its win streak to a historic nine-in-a-row.
Since Jax State (14-6, (7-0 ASUN) fully transitioned into Division I in 1995, the Gamecocks had never pieced together nine-straight victories, until now. Additionally, the majority of the run comes during the start of conference play where JSU is now 7-0 in league action for the first time.
Kennesaw State (9-10, 4-2 ASUN) shot above 50-percent for most of the game, pushing the Gamecocks the entire 40 minutes.
Senior
Darian Adams scored a game-high 22 and sparked JSU early in the midst of a tough atmosphere. Junior
Demaree King did as King has done over the last month, going 6-for-9 for 17 points off the bench, while
Brandon Huffman notches his third double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 boards.
Adams buried his first two trey attempts and JSU jumped out to an early 11-4 advantage. The Owls slowly chipped away at the deficit and took their first lead at 21-20 with under eight minutes to play before halftime. After Adams hit another late three-pointer to give him 15 points in the first half, JSU led 36-31 at halftime.
Out of the break, KSU responded quickly with a 6-2 start and eventually tied the contest at 46. A triple from King pushed JSU back ahead, but the Gamecocks found themselves down by one as the clock ticked under 10:00 to play.
With 8:05 remaining,
Juwan Perdue missed a pair of free throws, an issue tha plagued the Gamecocks all night shooting just 33-percent from the charity stripe. Perdue got his own rebound and found King who drove the lane for the layup and drew a foul for an old-fashioned three that send JSU back up 52-51. Trailing again in the final minutes, Adams hit his seventh trey of the night, finishing 7-for-10, to make it a 65-63 Gamecock lead.
After KSU added a free throw to cut it to one, Huffman drilled a clutch turnaround jumper to stretch the margin back to three and force the Owls to take tough shots in the final two minutes. KSU couldn't connect from deep, and after JSU finally managed to tack on a few free throws, it was over with a 70-64 decision.
JSU's win was the first-ever over Kennesaw State in just the second all-time meeting. The Gamecocks now turn their attention to another first-time face in the ASUN's reigning champions, Liberty. Jax State will visit the Flames on Saturday evening in Lynchburg, Virginia in a matchup between the last two unbeaten league teams.
