JOHNSON CITY, Tenn.—Jax State picked the perfect time for its best 20-minute stretch of the season.
 
The Gamecocks shot 75% from the field in the second half to erase a three-point deficit at the intermission for an 81-75 victory over East Tennessee State in a game that featured six ties and three lead changes.
 
It was Jax State's first win away from the Pete Mathews Coliseum this season and ended the Buccaneers' 11-game win streak at Freedom Hall.
 
"At some point, you can't keep getting bullied," said coach Ray Harper. "I thought we competed, we went and rebounded the ball at a high level against a really good team."
 
The Gamecocks (5-6) started the second half on a 9-0 run, and made their first six shots of the half, including a 5-for-5 effort from 3-point range to go up 51-40 with 14:05 left.
 
AC Bryant and Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. each knocked down a pair of triples during the first six minutes of the half. Bryant registered a season-high 29 points, highlighted by a 6-of-10 performance from 3-point land.
 
A triple by Mostapha El Moutaouakkil with 14:05 left gave the guests a 51-40 advantage for their biggest of the game. El Moutaouakkil finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
 
ETSU (8-5) went 10-of-12 at the free throw line in the second half to stay within reach and tied the game at 55 with 7:49 remaining with a 3-pointer off a turnover. The game stayed within a possession until the 3:34 mark when Emondrek Erkins-Ford made a tough shot in the lane off a Buccaneer turnover, followed by another layup by Erkins-Ford off another ETSU miscue on the ensuing possession for a 68-61 lead with 3:16 left.
 
Erkins-Ford had a career-high 17 points and a team-high eight rebounds off the bench.
 
Following a 1-for-7 start from the field, Jax State buckled down and made seven of their next 10 to tie the game at 20 with 7:17 to play, then took their first lead of the game at the 6:52 mark of the first half on a pair of free throws by El Moutaouakkil.
 
Jax State finished the game 53% from the field, 11-of-22 from 3-point range, and were 67% at the free throw line. The Gamecocks outrebounded ETSU by 10, with an 11-5 lead in offensive rebounds.
 
The Gamecocks will be off for Christmas before returning to the Pete Mathews Coliseum on December 29^th against Western Kentucky.