IRVINE, Calif. –After a dominant 81-64 victory over Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Jax State heads to the West Coast to match up with UC Irvine on Sunday, March 23. at 8 p.m. in Irvine, Calif. The Game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
Jax State (22-12, 12-6 CUSA) vs UC Irvine (29-6, 17-3 Big West)
When: Sunday, March 23 | 8:00 PM CT 
Where: Bren Events Center | Irvine, Calif.
Live Stats: SIDEARM
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
 
 
Postseason Bound
For the fourth time in nine seasons, Ray Harper has led Jax State to a postseason tournament. Harper has previously taken Jax State to two NCAA tournaments and the 2017-18 CBI Semifinals.
 
Gamecocks Swamp Yellow Jackets
Jax State opened up its first NIT in program history with a wire-to-wire victory over Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Jaron Pierre Jr. scored 30-points as Jax State defeated a power conference team for just the second time in school history.
 
Mr. 600
With a dominant 81-64 win over Georgia Tech in the opening round of the NIT, Ray Harper earned the 600th coaching victory of his illustrious career. Harper has earned nearly 170 victories in his nine seasons at Jacksonville State.
 
House, Pierre Named All-Tournament Team
Quel'Ron House and Jaron Pierre were each named to the Conference USA All-Tournament team after helping Jax State make a run to the CUSA Championship game before falling in the finals to Liberty. Pierre averaged 19.0 points across the three games while House averaged 16.3.
 
Pierre Takes CUSA Player of the Year
After averaging the fourth most points in all of NCAA Division I basketball with 21.8 points per contest in the regular season, Pierre was named CUSA Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference. On top of his season-long scoring barrage, Pierre also led Jax State in assists per game with 3.7 and averaged 5.3 rebounds per game in the regular season. 
 
Harper Named CUSA Coach of the Year
Harper takes home the Gene Bartow Conference USA Coach of the Year award after leading a Jax State squad riddled with injuries to a two seed in the Conference USA tournament. Jax State was selected to finish eighth by the league's coaches in the Preseason Poll.
 
Nicholson Hearns Postseason Honors
Nicholson earned both All-Defensive Team and All-Conference Honorable Mention honors after a season that saw the redshirt junior set new career highs in several stats. Nicholson averaged 7.7 points and 7.7 rebounds this regular season, leading Jax State in both total rebounds (250) and blocks (52). Nicholson also earned All-Conference USA Honorable Mention Honors last season.
 
House Named to All-Freshman Team
Quel'Ron House was a key piece for the Gamecocks after returning from injury, taking on the role as Jax State's second leading scorer in Conference USA play at 8.3 PPG while totaling a team best 58 assists in 17 conference games. Since joining the starting lineup on Jan. 9, House has tallied double-digit points seven times after only accomplishing the feat once in non-conference play.
 
Up Next
With a win, Jax State would advance to the quarterfinals of the NIT, playing the winner of UAB and Santa Clara.