MOBILE, Ala. – The Men's Basketball Gamecocks hit the road for an in-state battle at Sun Belt foe South Alabama on Sunday at 3 p.m. The game is set to be the fifth meeting between the two teams in the last five years. 
 
Jax State (5-3, 0-0 CUSA) vs South Alabama (5-3, 0-0 Sun Belt)
When: Sunday, December 8 | 3 PM
Where: Mitchell Center| Mobile, Ala.
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Click Here
TV: ESPN+ 
Radio: Listen to all the action on the Gamecock Sports Network as "The Voice" Mike Parris returns behind the mic for his 42nd season calling play-by-play action of Gamecock Basketball. 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
 
 
Mr. 1,000
With a 30-point performance against Columbia International Jaron Pierre Jr. joined the 1,000 point club. Pierre scored 482 points at Southern Miss and 330 points at Wichita State before trading in his black and gold for red. Pierre has dominated this season, averaging 24.1 points per game through his first eight contests as a Gamecock.
 
First Things First
Jaron Pierre Jr. wrapped up a performance against Columbia International with 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, the first player in NCAA Division I Men's Basketball to have those numbers in a game this season. Just one day later Jalen Rucker of Army finished a 3OT game against Le Moyne with 34 points, 13 rebounds and five assists of his own. Pierre became the first Jax State player with 30/10/5 in the last 20 years.
 
A Familiar Face
Jax State guard Jamar Franklin returns to Mobile, this time as a member of a different team. Franklin was a member of the 2022-23 South Alabama team before spending the 23-24 campaign at Georgia Southern. Franklin and the Eagles traveled to Mobile last season before falling 78-65 to the Jaguars. 
 
 
Block Party
On Monday, Dec. 2 against Columbia International, Jax State tallied 10 blocks, the most in a game since 2018. Mason Nicholson led the way with three while five other Gamecocks picked up at least one block apiece.
 
Raining Threes
Jax State toppled Columbia International 89-59 on Dec. 2 behind 18 three-pointers. the total ended up being the fourth best three-point performance in program history and finished two shy of the program record set in 2021 against Carver College with 20. Jao Ituka, Jaron Pierre and Jamar Franklin each hit at least five threes in the win.
 
No Free Points
As a team, Jax State ranks second out of 364 Division I men's basketball teams in fouls per game with 12.0. Jax State has just 96 fouls in eight games and ranks just one foul per game behind Creighton, who averages 11 fouls per game.
 
Family Matters
South Alabama redshirt freshman John Broom has familial ties to Jax State. Broom's mother, Tracy, is one of the most decorated members in Jax State WBB history, boasting two First Team All-GSC selections, a 1993 GSC Player of the Year honor and being named a Division II All-American in 1993. Tracy Broom, then Tracy Linton, was named to the Jax State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007 and currently serves as an Assistant AD at Jax State. 
 
Up Next
Jax State returns to The Pete on Saturday, Dec. 14, welcoming Utah Valley to Jacksonville.