SAN ANTONIO – Jacksonville State is set for a trio of games over the Thanksgiving week, beginning with a Wednesday night matchup at the University of The Incarnate Word (UIW).
 
Wednesday's tip-off is set for 7 p.m. in the first-time meeting between the two programs. Jax State (1-3) is looking to shake a couple of last-second setbacks from the last 10 days, while UIW (2-2) aims to continue a hot streak of back-to-back games scoring 100-or-more points.
 
The Gamecocks make their first return to the Lone Star State since opening the 2019-20 season at SMU. Jax State will face UIW at the Cardinals' McDermott Center on Wednesday night, and then turn around and take on the same team again on Sunday afternoon at UTSA's Convocation Center as part of the Roadrunner/Cardinal Classic. In between, Jax State will meet the UTSA Roadrunners on Friday.
 
Head coach Ray Harper is no stranger to the area. Sitting just over an hour drive north is Austin, Texas, where Harper began is collegiate playing career with the Longhorns. He became the 1981 Southwest Conference Rookie of the Year at Texas after averaging 9.8 points and 3.9 assists per outing, but the Bremen, Ky., native, transferred back to Kentucky Wesleyan to complete his career where he became KWU's first All-American. Harper finished his college career with 1,187 points and 605 assists between the two schools.
 
Newcomers KyKy Tandy (16.0) and Quincy Clark (11.8) lead the Gamecock offense with double-digit scoring averages, while Marcellus Brigham Jr. (6.0) and Juwan Perdue (5.5) are pulling down the most boards per game.
 
Wednesday night at UIW and Friday afternoon at UTSA will stream on ESPN+.