LYNCHBURG, Va. – Jacksonville State wraps up a lengthy road trip on Thursday night with a highly-anticipated return visit to league-favorite Liberty.
 
While the Gamecocks (7-8, 0-2 ASUN) are still in search for its first conference win of the year, the marquee battle with the Flames (11-4, 2-0 ASUN) pits the last four ASUN championship winners against each other. Jax State, following a 77-67 upset win inside Liberty Arena last January, continued on to win the league crown with a 13-3 mark in its first year in the ASUN, ending Liberty's run of three-straight regular season titles.  
 
The victory for JSU last season was the first by any opponent in 23 games inside Liberty's new arena. Since then, Florida Gulf Coast, Bellarmine and Southern Miss have joined the list, but the Gamecocks could become the first again with multiple visiting wins.
 
LU's Preseason ASUN Player of the Year, Darius McGhee, leads the league with 22 points per game, but the Gamecocks possess a couple of lofty scorers as well with Demaree King (15.5) and Skyelar Potter (14.7). The Gamecock duo makes JSU the only team with two players in the league's top nine for individual scoring averages.
 
Thursday's ESPN+ tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT and will also broadcast over the Gamecock Sports Network with Mike Parris on the play-by-play call. Live stats are also available on JSUGamecockSports.com. After the first two meetings in Lynchburg, the Flames will make their first-ever visit to Pete Mathews Coliseum in February for Jax State's regular-season home finale.
 
The budding rivalry on the hardwood will continue on for years to come as two of the ASUN's top teams make the move to Conference USA beginning next season, joining New Mexico State and Sam Houston State at the FBS level.