JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team returns to Pete Mathews Coliseum on Thursday evening to host ASUN foe, Lipscomb, as part of Coaches vs. Cancer.
 
Reaching the midway point of the conference season, the Gamecocks (8-13, 1-7 ASUN) hope they can rekindle past history against the Bisons (13-8, 5-3 ASUN) who JSU has yet to lose to in four prior meetings.
 
While seniors Demaree King and Skyelar Potter continue to pace Jax State offensively, freshman Peyton Daniels enters Thursday's contest coming off a career-best 21-point game on the road at Stetson last Saturday. The Gamecocks fell to the Hatters despite posting their highest scoring tally in regulation this season, but the strong offensive attack could be a sign of things to come as the second half of the league slate gets underway.
 
The Bisons meanwhile enter riding a season-best four game winning streak sitting in fifth=place in the conference standings. The last time these two met last January, Lipscomb led by 20 points in the second half before Jax State roared back for an 88-83 victory in the largest comeback under head coach Ray Harper.
 
Thursday's game is scheduled to tip at 8 p.m. following the JSU women's game against Central Arkansas. Fans in attendance will enjoy a special halftime performance by the world=famous "Red Panda."
 
Those inside The Pete, and streaming on ESPN+, will also notice a different sight on the Gamecock bench as Ray Harper's staff moves back to the tradition suit attire in conjunction with the Coaches vs Cancer's annual "Suits and Sneakers" week across college basketball.   
 
Nationwide, coaches and their staffs wear sneakers with their suits during games between Jan. 23-29 to raise awareness, helping to save lives by raising funds and encouraging people to educate themselves about cancer prevention, screening, and early detection.
 
The Coaches vs. Cancer program is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The program empowers basketball and other athletic coaches to save lives from cancer by leveraging their community leadership to raise awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society.
 
For over 25 years, the Coaches vs. Cancer program, in collaboration with the National Association of Basketball Coaches, has united coaches and fans nationwide to help the American Cancer Society defeat a common enemy – cancer. With your passion and dedicated support, the impact has been felt in communities nationwide. Through fundraising and education initiatives, the Coaches vs. Cancer program has
supported the American Cancer Society in improving and saving lives from cancer in the US and worldwide. The fight isn't over and we need you on our team. For more information and to join coaches in the fight against cancer, visit coachesvscancer.org.