JACKSONVILLE — Three times this season, the Jax State men's basketball team had overcome a deficit of greater than 10 points.
 
With 9:38 left in the first half of Saturday's game against Western Kentucky, the Gamecocks faced their biggest deficit at any point of the season. After trailing by 19, Jax State rallied for an 85-83 victory to remain at the top of the Conference USA standings in a game that featured nine lead changes and eight ties.
 
"They came out and took the fight to us, and that's why I kept telling the guys every timeout the more aggressive team wins this game," said coach Ray Harper. "It took us a long time to respond. But, I'm proud of my group. They reached down and found a little something extra."
 
The Gamecocks (17-7, 9-2 CUSA) missed their first four shots and trailed 8-0 until a second chance layup by Michael Houge at the 16:50 mark. A 10-0 run by the Toppers gave the guests a 15-point lead at 24-9 with 12:41 left in the first.
 
"Sometimes you have to win when you don't play your best, and that's what we were able to do today," said Harper.
 
WKU (14-10, 5-6 CUSA) strung together nine consecutive field goals to push the lead to 19 with 9:38 left on a Braxton Bayless layup. The Toppers had shot 81% from the field at that point in the game.
 
Jax State fought back to close the half on a 14-2 run and held WKU without a point for the final 3:47 to cut the deficit to six at 44-38 at the intermission.
 
Quel'Ron House's three-point play 51 seconds into the second half cut the WKU advantage to two after Jaron Pierre Jr. split a pair of free throws earlier. Mason Nicholson's baseline jam at the 18:41 mark knotted the game at 44.
 
Pierre led Jax State with 28 points, going 9-of-18 from the field.
 
A pair of Koree Cotton free throws at the 16:58 mark gave Jax State its first lead of the game, but it lasted just 13 seconds as the Toppers were able to answer on the following possession. Cotton again converted a jumper, followed by a Houge jumper in the lane to give the Gamecocks a 52-48 lead with 15:53 left.
 
Cotton finished with 13 points and added six rebounds. Houge had nine points and a team-best nine rebounds.
 
A step-back 3-pointer in the corner by Tyrone Marshall gave WKU a 75-73 lead with 4:07 left, but Iaroslav Niagu's slam on the ensuing possession tied the game for the eighth time. After Cotton split a pair of free throws at the 2:49 mark, an offensive rebound by Nicholson gave Pierre a look from the top of the key for a 3-pointer for his 26th point of the day and a 79-74 lead.
 
Lander banked in a contested three from the left wing with 32 seconds left to end a 3:36 scoring drought for the Toppers to get his team within a point. House was good on two free throws with 28 seconds left after being fouled in the backcourt.
 
Lander led all scorers with 30. The Toppers finished 52% from the field, 50% from 3-point range, and were good on all 13 of their free throws.
 
A WKU turnover with 6.5 seconds remaining down three was followed by a Marcellus Brigham dunk on the inbound to secure the victory.
 
Jao Ituka was also in double figures with 13 points.
 
The Gamecocks improved to 11-0 at the Pete Mathews Coliseum this season. Next up will be a road trip to Sam Houston on Thursday and LA Tech on Saturday.