JACKSONVILLE – A season-high 24 turnovers showed up at an inopportune time for Jax State on Thursday as the Gamecocks fell to visiting UTEP, 72-65.
 
The Miners (14-15, 5-9 CUSA) pull within a game of Jax State (14-15, 6-8 CUSA) in the league standings and now own the benefit of any tiebreaker courtesy of their season sweep. With two regular season games remaining Jax State is still in position to finish anywhere from fourth to ninth in Conference USA.
 
Errors and inefficiency plagued Jax State throughout the game in unconventional ways. The Gamecocks have led their opponent in points in the paint in all but eight games this season, but were outscored 42-22 by UTEP Thursday. Only Wisconsin had out-hustled Jax State down low by that margin to date. As part of the 24 turnovers, the Gamecocks allowed a season-high 15 steals and matched a season-worse 11 missed free throws. Ironically, the only other game with double-digit misses at the stripe also came against UTEP on the road earlier this season.
 
Graduate KyKy Tandy tried to keep Jax State in the game with a team-high 22 points in his 10th game of the season scoring 20-or-more. Junior Quincy Clark finished with 16 points, just two shy of his career-best mark. Forwards Juwan Perdue and Marcellus Brigham Jr., were limited with early foul trouble, both had four fouls with 11 minutes remaining.
 
With all the miscues, the Gamecocks remained competitive for 40 minutes. Mason Nicholson had back-to-back buckets to start the game as Jax State led 7-4 out of the gate. However, from that points the Gamecocks would not make another field goal for five minutes, letting the Miners take the lead.
 
After taking a 37-31 lead to the half, UTEP moved in front 40-33 in the second half before Jax State surged back to even things at 42-42. The Gamecocks briefly led by one following an Andres Burney free throw, but the advantage lasted less than a minute and the Miners never relinquished the lead again on their way to secure the first road win of the season.
 
Jax State aims to rebound on Saturday in a 4 p.m. Senior Day matchup against New Mexico State.