JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The Jacksonville State Men's Basketball team opened up the Conference USA home slate with a thrilling 63-61 victory over Louisiana Tech on Thursday at the Pete Mathews Coliseum.

Jax State improves to 10-7 (2-2 CUSA) on the season while the Bulldogs fall to 12-5 (3-1 CUSA).

After being held to just 25 points in the first half, Jacksonville State outscored the Bulldogs 38-30 in the second half for its second conference win of the season.

Jaron Pierre Jr. and Marcellus Brigham led the team, both tallying 14 points. Pierre also poured on seven rebounds and seven assists.

The back-and-forth contest featured six lead changes and seven ties, with the Gamecocks and Bulldogs trading the lead five times in the second half alone.

Jax State took its first lead of the second half with 13:18 left and led for just over a minute before Louisiana Tech regained the lead. Jax State rallied and jumped ahead courtesy of a Jao Ituka three pointer with 8:42 left in the game.

Louisiana Tech cut the lead to two points with 1:03 left on a dunk just and regained the ball with 30 seconds remaining. A Jax State defensive stand ended the contest.

Koree Cotton joined Brigham and Pierre in double figures with 11 points on three three-point makes. Ituka clocked out of the contest with nine points.

Louisiana Tech held a 37-32 advantage on the glass as well as a 32-24 edge in the paint. Jax State held the edge in second chance points 18-16.

Louisiana Tech forward Daniel Batcho led all scorers and finished the game with 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor.

Mason Nicholson tallied six rebounds while three other Gamecocks added on four boards. Quel'Ron House finished his afternoon with three assists.

Jax State returns to The Pete on Saturday, Jan. 18 when Sam Houston comes to town for a 4 p.m. tipoff in Jacksonville