BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A six-game winning streak came to an end for Jacksonville State Saturday evening when the host Hilltoppers claimed an 80-69 win inside Diddle Arena on the campus of Western Kentucky University.
 
The setback was the first for Jax State (10-8, 2-1 CUSA) in league play as it embarks on the first season in Conference USA. WKU, which has won each of the four all-time meetings with Jax State, continues a strong season at 13-4 overall and an identical 2-1 mark in CUSA. Jax State and WKU are tied for second in the standings behind Sam Houston who remains the only unbeaten team at 3-0.
 
The Gamecocks' ninth-ranked scoring defense was penetrated early and often allowing 80 points for the first time in regulation this season to the host Hilltoppers. WKU buried 10 three-pointers, the most of any opponent this season, and poured in the third-most second-chance points with 13.
 
WKU opened fast streaking out to an 8-0 advantage before KyKy Tandy answered with a couple of treys to help the Gamecocks chip away of the deficit. Tandy finished with 25 points, matching WKU's Brando Newman for the game-high. Following inside buckets from Andres Burney and Mason Nicholson to help close the gap, the Gamecocks grabbed their first lead of the day at 22-21 on a Travis Roberts' triple.
 
After the 8-0 start, Jax State closed the final 16 minutes of the first half outscoring the Tops 43-27 to take an eight-point lead into the locker room.
 
The momentum didn't carry over into half No. 2, and a similar early run for WKU, this time a 9-0 stretch, gave the lead back to the home squad. The lead exchanged hands 10 time overall, but the Gamecocks failed to draw back even after WKU broke a 50-50 deadlock at the 12:40 mark of the second half.
 
While the Gamecocks couldn't match the Tops behind the arc going 6-of-18, they equally missed opportunities to narrow the gap at the charity stripe where Jax State finished 11-for-19 in front of a rowdy red wave crowd.
 
Marcellus Brigham Jr., finished with 12 points and a team-high three assists while Tandy, Burney and Ivan Reynolds each matched on the glass with four rebounds apiece.
 
Jax State does not have a midweek this week and returns to action next Saturday, Jan. 20 hosting Louisiana Tech.