DeLand, Fla. – Making its first visit to Stetson since 2002, Jacksonville State's return was not a memorable one as the Gamecocks let a second-half lead slip away to fall for the second time in league play by a final score, 63-57. 
 
JSU (16-8, 9-2 ASUN) led by as many as 17 points and for more than 30 minutes, before the home Hatters (11-13, 5-6 ASUN) rallied back. The loss was the first on the road for JSU since losing to Alabama in Tuscaloosa in mid-December. While JSU leads the all-time series, 8-5, the Gamecocks are now just 3-5 when in DeLand.
 
Darian Adams led the way offensively for JSU once again with 19 points. Brandon Huffman finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds, but it wasn't enough as JSU was heavily outrebounded, 42-33. The Hatters collected 18 offensive boards for the most allowed by JSU all season.
 
JSU jumped out to a 6-0 lead and later reached double figures up 25-15. A triple from Jalen Gibbs with four minutes to play until halftime made it 37-20, and another trey attempt on the following possession had a chance to double the score. Instead, the shot rimmed out and Stetson would go on a 7-0 run to force a Gamecock timeout.
 
The lead was still 12 at halftime, 41-29, but the Hatters continued to chip away at the deficit. Through 10 minutes JSU had just seven second-half points, and went for than seven minutes without a field goal. Stetson took its first lead on a three to make it 49-48 with under eight minutes remaining. A lob to Huffman temporarily pushed JSU back in front, but a follow-up triple from SU sent the Hatters ahead for good.
 
Adams hit a desperation three with 46 seconds remaining to give JSU 16 second-half points. It marks the lowest scoring output in a half this season ahead of 20 points in the first-half at Troy, and the fewest since scoring 13 at Tennessee State on Feb. 27, 2020.