Game Notes: Jacksonville State

JACKSONVILLE – Following a 10-day break due to opponent Covid issues, the Jacksonville State men's basketball team is set to return to action on Saturday at North Alabama.
 
The Gamecocks (7-6) wrapped up the non-conference slate with a convincing 123-59 victory over Carver College back on Dec. 28. Now, JSU prepares for its first official ASUN Conference matchup since March 6, 2003, when it fell to Central Florida in its final ASUN Tournament before heading to the Ohio Valley Conference.
 
It's unlikely that anyone at that time would have predicted JSU's next ASUN opponent 22 years later would be former Gulf South Conference rival, North Alabama.
 
The Lions (7-7) opened league play on Tuesday, falling on the road to Lipscomb. UNA is 5-0 at home this season. Saturday night's 8 p.m. tip-off on ESPN+ from Flowers Hall will mark the 92nd all-time meeting in JSU's third-most played series. The Gamecocks lead the series, 56-35, after winning both 2018-19 meetings in the first matchups since both schools moved to Division I.
 
Senior Darian Adams continues to lead JSU's offense with 14.8 points per game, and the Montgomery, Ala., native, is joined in double figures by junior Demaree King (11.4), Jalen Gibbs (11.2) and Brandon Huffman (10.2). Huffman tied a career-high with 20 points against Carver in JSU's last game, while junior guard Jalen Finch has dished back-to-back 10-assists games at Little Rock and versus Carver.
 
The Gamecocks will return home to host Lipscomb on Tuesday, Jan. 11.