JACKSONVILLE – For the ninth-consecutive season under head coach
Ray Harper, Jax State opened up its home schedule with a win, this one coming in dominant fashion. Seven Gamecocks finished the game in double figures as Jax State toppled LaGrange 112-48 in The Pete on Monday.
Jax State was led by a pair of newcomers, with Jaron Pierre Jr. tallying a game-high 24 points and finishing one rebound shy of a double-double. Saint Peter's transfer Michael Houge wrapped up the contest with 21 points of his own, adding 12 boards.
Center Mason Nicholson joined Houge in the double-double club, adding 12 points and a team-high 13 rebounds in his 2024-25 debut.
The Gamecock defense shined early, as Jax State held LaGrange to a field goal percentage of 21.6% in the first half. Jax State wasted no time taking advantage of the Panther shooting lull, shooting 21-of-39 to take a 55-20 advantage into the break. Houge led all scorers with 15 points at the half.
Jax State used five runs of eight or more unanswered points to topple the Panthers on Monday, including an early 17-0 run taken into the first half under-eight media timeout.
The Gamecocks kept the pressure on in the second half, adding 57 points to the total in the second half while not allowing the Panthers to cross the half-century mark. The 64-point margin of victory is tied for the fourth largest victory in program history and is the second largest win since 1965, trailing just a 125-55 win over Brescia in 2015.
Jacksonville State held the edge in paint points, 34-8 and fast-break points, 10-4.
Six individuals finished the game with multiple assists, including seven-footer Iaroslav Niagu, who led the team with five of his own.
Marcellus Brigham Jr. finished the game with 10 points and nine rebounds while VMI transfer Koree Cotton added 14 points and seven rebounds. Jao Ituka and Jamar Franklin each also surpassed the 10 point mark.
Samuel Moss led the Panthers with 10 points while Brodie Scott led the team in rebounds with five.
The first Division I matchup of the season comes next with an 8 p.m. central time tip off in Colorado Springs, Colo. as Jax State squares off with Mountain West foe Air Force.
