MIAMI — In a game full of ups and down for Jax State, it was the true freshman Jacoby Hill who made it all worth it.

The Jax State men's basketball team battled down to the wire against FIU inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center on Wednesday night, and a game-winning shot in the final seconds by Hill, capped off by a pair of free throws, earned the Gamecocks a 78-74 win on the road.

"I couldn't be more proud," head coach Ray Harper said. "That's a gritty win. The road will reveal your character a little bit and tell you who you really are. I thought tonight we grew up. We're starting to really grow up."

While the contest ended with fireworks, it didn't start that way for either team as both squads opened the first 10 minutes of action shooting a combined 6-for-33 from the floor (Jax State, 1-for-13; FIU, 5-for-20).

Eventually, the Gamecocks found the offensive life they were looking for, outscoring the Panthers 14-9 from 10:04-3:04 (7:00) to make it a 20-19 game, with Mostapha El Moutaouakkil scoring eight of those points during the span.

However, momentum shifted abruptly as FIU closed the final three minutes on a 12-5 run of its own to enter halftime with a 32-24 lead.

"We had some looks from some of our guards, and we were getting the threes we wanted," Harper said. "We just weren't making them"

The second half opened similarly to how the first half closed, as the Panthers came out of the gate on a 12-6 run to extend the lead to a 15-point margin, 41-26, FIU's biggest lead of the contest.

Needing a spark, Jax State had its wish granted after an immediate 9-0 run response by Harper's squad brought the Gamecocks back into the game, cutting the deficit down to just five points, 44-39, with 14:48 remaining.

From there, the momentum only continued for Jax State, as it proceeded to go on a 12-2 run from 11:45-9:35 (2:10) to achieve a 57-55 lead, its first lead since the 16:02 mark in the first half.

What was once a defensive bout quickly turned into an offensive slug fest as both teams continued to trade baskets and flip the scoreboard down the stretch.

El Moutaouakkil and Emondrek Erkins-Ford became the primary offensive catalysts for Harper's squad, as the duo combined to score 17 of 22 Jax State points from 11:26-4:09 in the second frame.

With just 59 seconds left in the contest, the Gamecocks found themselves down by two-points until a pair of free throws by AC Bryant knotted everything up with just 43 seconds on the clock.

FIU had an opportunity to go ahead in the final seconds, but a missed jump shot gave Jax State one final chance to seal the game.

With less than 10 seconds left in the ball game, Jaye Nash found Hill in the corner, in which Hill took two dribbles and drilled a mid-range pull up to take a two-point lead over the Panthers with just one second remaining.

Following an inbound violation by FIU on its final possession, Hill went to the line and sank two free throws to secure the victory on the road.

"I mean, what can you say about the freshman?" Harper said. "Game on the line. He wanted that shot. He was physical enough to get the defender off of him and make a big shot."

El Moutaouakkil led all scorers offensively with his 31 points, the most he has scored against any Conference USA opponent this season. Jax State had two others in double figures as well, including Hill's 15 points and Erkins-Ford's 10 points off the bench.

After the Gamecocks shot just 8-for-25 (32 percent) from the field in the opening stanza, the second half was a much different result as they shot 18-for-29 (62 percent) from the field to close out the evening.

Jax State moved the ball effectively as well, tallying 14 assists on 26 made field goals throughout the night, with El Moutaouakkil and Nash recording four apiece.

Next up, Jax State continues its road trip up to Missouri State to take on the Bears this Saturday, Jan. 31, at 2 p.m. Central.