Jax State Rolls Over LaGrange to Open Season - Jacksonville State University Athletics

Monday, November 2

JACKSONVILLE

7:30 p.m.

Jax State

1-0,0-0CUSA

123

LaGrange

0-0,0-0CCS

Team	1	2	F
LaGrange	24	35	59
Jacksonville St.	64	59	123

Box Score (PDF)

11/2/2026 10:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Six Gamecocks finished with double figures en route to a season-opening 123-59 victory against the LaGrange Panthers on Monday night inside Pete Mathews Coliseum.

Led by Jordan Stiemke's 17-point performance, Jax State (1-0) managed to put up its highest point total since Dec. 28, 2021, against Carver (123), just 13 points shy of a program record. Additionally, the Gamecocks' 64-point margin of victory is tied for the third-most in school history.

"This group showed that they care about each other and it showed a little bit tonight," head coach Ray Harper said. "It's good for them to have this opportunity and now it gets real come Thursday night."

The Gamecocks were off and rolling from the opening tip, setting the tone early by jumping out to a 12-0 lead in the first 2:46 of the contest. Jax State showed resilience on the defensive end as well, holding LaGrange to just 10 points at the 7:41 mark in the opening frame. The scoreboard advantage only continued to increase all the way to halftime as Jax state entered the locker room with a 64-24 lead.

The trend continued for Harper's squad in the closing stanza as well, as the Gamecocks shot 21-for-40 (53 percent) from the field while holding the Panthers to just 8-for-28 (29 percent) shooting. Jax State received second half scoring help from 11 different players, including five of those that made at least one three-pointer. In the game's entirety, the Gamecocks poured in 69 points off the bench.

Harper's squad had no trouble sharing the wealth in the victory, dishing out 27 assists on 44 made field goals, led by Chris Lockett Jr's career-high 10 dimes. Of those 44 buckets, there were four Gamecocks who sank five apiece, including Alijah Curry (16 points), Naas Cunningham (14 points), Williams Itumo (12 points) and Leon Horner (11 points).

"The big thing I did like about tonight is that we shared the ball," Harper said. "We weren't selfish. In these types of games it can get like that, but it didn't tonight."

Jax State also found success in the three-ball as well by burying 17 triples, marking the team's highest total since Dec. 12, 2024, against Columbia International (18). Stiemke and junior forward Alijah Curry contributed four threes each, including Curry hitting four straight in the homestretch of the second half.

The Gamecocks will now head southbound for their next matchup, taking on the South Alabama Jaguars on Nov. 5 inside Mitchell Center at 7 p.m.