JACKSONVILLE – Behind a trio of double-digit scorers, led by sophomore Marcellus Brigham Jr.'s breakout game, Jacksonville State held off North Florida, 72-63, Thursday evening at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 
While the visiting Ospreys (7-10, 2-3 ASUN) kept JSU (8-10, 1-4 ASUN) offensive leaders Demaree King and Skyelar Potter in check, it was Brigham and a band off others that stepped up to pull the Gamecocks through for their first conference win of the season.
 
Brigham Jr., in his second career start, stole the show with a career-high 21 points. One week ago, the Memphis, Tenn., native, had a career-best six points through 45 games. In his first start last Saturday against Bellarmine, Brigham increased the mark to nine, and kicked the door down on Thursday with 21 on 7-of-11 shooting and a perfect 2-for-2 from downtown.
 
While Brigham warmed up, junior Juwan Perdue helped drive JSU out to a double-digit lead in the first half. Perdue finished with 12 points, while Potter eventually reach 13 by the end of the night. JSU's leading scorer, King, was held without a three-pointer for the first time this season.
 
After a couple of treys for UNF started 6-0, JSU quickly bounced back to the lead before building a  31-20 lead late in the first half. UNF closed the half on a 9-0 run to pull within a bucket at the intermission. The Ospreys scored the first five of the second half to reclaim the lead before a layup from Brigham snapped the 14-0 run.
 
The two sides exchanged the lead 11 times on Thursday and had four lead changes. JSU snagged 35 defensive rebounds, a season-high against Division I competition, on its way to 47 boards altogether. Carrying the theme of the night, Brigham Jr.'s career-high nine rebounds also led Jax State on the glass, just ahead of Perdue's eight.
 
Trailing by five with under 10 minutes to play, Brigham and Potter knocked down consecutive three-pointers on ensuing possessions to even the game at 53-all. With less than five minutes remaining, JSU narrowly led by one when Potter's corner trey boosted JSU to its largest second-half lead. The Ospreys used the intentional foul strategy in the final minutes to come back, but JSU finished 12-of-14 from the charity stripe and held on for the 72-63 victory.
 
The Gamecocks host Jacksonville at Pete Mathews Coliseum on Saturday at 4 p.m. to close our the season series with the Dolphins.