JACKSONVILLE – A few hours premature of official celebrations, Jax State had its own fireworks display at Pete Mathews Coliseum Sunday afternoon with a 107-67 triumph over visiting Trevecca Nazarene.
 
The Gamecocks shot 61 percent and drained a season-high 11 three-pointers en route to their first 100-point game of the season. The Division II Trojans (8-3) put up a valiant effort scoring 67 against the No. 15 scoring defense in the nation.
 
In just the third all-time meeting between the two schools, and the first since 1994, all 13 Gamecocks to see the floor scored led by a 25-point performance by KyKy Tandy. The Hopkinsville, Ky., native connected on seven of 11 triples. He was joined in double figures by Juwan Perdue (13) and Quincy Clark. Perdue nearly secured a double-double with his team-high nine rebounds. Collectively, Jax State out-rebounded TNU, 39-22.
 
Matt Mayers and Travis Roberts finished with nine points apiece, while Gora Niang and Mason Nicholson each pitched in seven as part of a balanced attack. True freshman Alex Odam got in on the longball action with his first triple of the year, while junior transfer Tyre Patterson finished with a career-high six points down the stretch.
 
Tandy and Caleb Johnson started strong offensively and pushed the Gamecocks to an early 14-6 advantage. Though the Trojans never threatened to fight all the way back, they put up an impressive showing slice through the Gamecock defense on a consistent basis.
 
Jax State took a 55-37 halftime lead into the locker room and soon extended it to a 30-point margin in the second half on a pair of free throws from Clark.
 
The Gamecocks close 2023 and the non-conference portion of their schedule with four-straight wins and turn focus now toward the first run through Conference USA. Jax State hosts FIU next Saturday at 4 p.m. in the first CUSA contest in program history.