BEREA, Ky. – The Jacksonville State Men's Basketball team prepares for one more contest prior to Christmas, taking on Eastern Kentucky on Saturday. The Gamecocks close out the non-conference slate on Dec. 30 at home against Fort Valley State. 
 
Jax State (6-5, 0-0 CUSA) vs Eastern Kentucky (6-5, 0-0 ASUN)
When: Saturday, December 21 | 1 PM CT / 2 PM ET
Where: Seabury Center| Berea, Ky.
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Click Here
TV: ESPN+ 
Radio: Listen to all the action on the Gamecock Sports Network! Anchor stations for the Gamecock Sports Network include 91.9 WLJS (Jacksonville), WVOK 97.9 (Anniston/Oxford), WKXX 102.9 (Attalla/Gadsden), 95.5 WRBZ (Montgomery/Wetumpka), 95.3/94.7 WCRL (Oneonta), 97.7 WKXM (Winfield) and 107.1 WRAB (Arab).
 
 
Jax State Notes
 
 
Gamecocks Come Up Short at Missouri
Jax State led for over 17 minutes of action on Tuesday, Dec. 17 before SEC foe Missouri took a lead with just under six minutes to play, winning 83-72. The Gamecocks went toe-to-toe with the Tigers, out-rebounding the SEC club and leading for more time than the Tigers, but fell just a few possessions shy.
 
Bluegrass Connections
Jax State has a pair of connections with the Bluegrass State, including head coach Ray Harper, a Bremen, Ky. native, who spent time as a player at Kentucky Wesleyan and 14 years as a coach at KWC and Western Kentucky. Louisville local and Jax State freshman Quel'Ron House also hails from Kentucky.
 
A Familiar Foe
Jax State and EKU are set to meet for the 40th time in program history, but for just the first time as non-conference opponents. All 39 previous meetings came from 2004-2023 as fellow conference members of the OVC and ASUN. The pair have even played a game at the Seabury Center before, on Jan. 24, 2019 where Jax State lost 88-70 in Berea, Ky.
 
 
JP in the Ranks
Through nine games this season, Jax State guard Jaron Pierre Jr. ranks in the top 20 nationally in both Total Points (9th) and PPG (6th). Pierre's 22.7 points per game lead Conference USA and makes him one of eight Division I players averaging at least 22 points per contest this season. He is one of two players in the NCAA to average 20+ points, 5+ rebounds and 4+ assists, joining Rutgers freshman and projected lottery pick Dylan Harper. 
 
Jao Do You Do?
After sinking just seven threes on 38.9 percent from beyond the arc in his first seven games this year, Jao Ituka is shooting 57.1 percent from three on 16 makes in his last four games. Ituka is averaging 16.3 points per game in that stretch after averaging 7.4 in his first seven games this season.
 
Cleaning Glass
Jax State ranks fifth in the NCAA in defensive rebounds per game with 30.73. The Gamecocks trail the leading Kentucky Wildcats by just two defensive rebounds per game. Michael Houge (50th) and Mason Nicholson (77th) both rank in the top 100 in total rebounds per game with 8.5 and 7.9 respectively.
 
No Free Points
As a team, Jax State ranks eighth out of 364 Division I men's basketball teams in fouls per game with 13.1. Jax State has just 144 fouls in nine games and ranks just 2.0 fouls per game behind Creighton, who averages 11.1 fouls per game.
 
Up Next
Jax State returns home for the remainder of Christmas break and takes nine days off before returning to action on Dec. 30 against Fort Valley State in The Pete. The Gamecocks will open up the Conference USA slate on Jan. 4 at Kennesaw State.