JACKSONVILLE – For the eighth-straight year under head coach Ray Harper, Jax State opens its home slate with a win after defeating Brescia University, 91-41, Tuesday afternoon in the 2023-24 season-opener.
 
A dozen Gamecocks scored in the game, with five reaching double digits led by sophomore Travis Roberts and junior Caleb Johnson with 12 apiece. Roberts, one of Jax State's core four returners, got the start in the opener alongside returners Marcellus Brigham Jr. and Mason Nicholson. It was the 16 th consecutive start for Brigham going back to last season, and the first-ever for second-year Gamecock Nicholson.
 
For the newcomers, Johnson's 12 points, Andres Burney's 11 and Quincy Clark's 10 led the way for 61 of Jax State's 91 points to come from players making their Gamecock debuts on Tuesday. Transfers KyKy Tandy, Matt Mayers and Ivan Reynolds each contributed nine points, while Tyre Patterson knocked down a late free throw to put himself on the board with one.
 
The Gamecocks started fast, shooting better than 60-percent from the field in the opening half. It was a 22-16 Jax State lead midway through the opening stanza when a thunderous dunk by Brigham on an inbounds lob pass opened the door for the Gamecocks to pull away. Jax State would close the half on a 26-5 stretch, which included a 13-0 run that lasted more than five minutes.
 
Coming out of the break with a 48-21 advantage, Jax State steadily increased the margin to as many as 52 late in the game before that final horn sounded with a 91-41 victory. After a perfect first half, Jax State shot 12-of-16 from the stripe in the second half for an efficient 86-percent free throw shooting.
 
All 14 Gamecocks on the roster saw playing time, featuring the collegiate debuts of local products Alex Odam and Thomas Curlee. Despite leading wire-to-wire, the Gamecocks did turn the ball over 23 times, but capitalized to outscore the Bearcats, 23-3, on fastbreaks.
 
The first Division I matchup of the season comes next with Saturday's 2 p.m. contest versus Utah Tech at Pete Mathews Coliseum.