JACKSONVILLE—The Jax State men's basketball team struggled to gain momentum on both ends of the court in a 79-70 setback to New Mexico State on Saturday.
 
The Gamecocks (13-12, 8-6 CUSA) shot just 37% from the field and 68% at the free throw line.
 
"They outplayed us," said coach Ray Harper. "They out-toughed us, and they deserve to win the game. We missed some easy shots early in the game, we had some undisciplined defensive plays late and were really stagnant on offense."
 
An 8-0 run gave Jax State a 10-6 lead at the 14:23, but the Aggies (12-13, 5-10 CUSA) scored the next five points to regain the lead. The teams traded 3-pointers until Jayland Randall of NMSU hit 3's at the 11:03 and 9:59 mark to give his team a four-point lead.
 
Jacoby Hill buried a triple at the 3:38 mark to get his team within four and Marcus Fitzgerald added on at the 2:57 mark to make it a one-point game, but the Gamecocks were unable to get any closer and trailed 32-29 at the break.
 
Hill finished with a team-high 21 points for a new career high, going 8-of-16 from the field. Fitzgerald added a season-best 14 points.
 
A 7-1 run late in the second half gave the Aggies a 12-point lead with 2:58 to play and the Gamecocks got no closer than seven the balance of the game.
 
AC Bryant and Jaye Nash were also in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
 
Jax State will head to LA Tech on Wednesday for a 6:30 p.m. start.