LAS CRUCES, N.M.—New Mexico State led for just 3:40 on Thursday but it was enough for a 77-75 win over Jax State in overtime.
 
Jax State (14-16, 9-10 CUSA) led by as many as 15 with 10:22 to go in the first, but a tough shooting second half, going just 12-of-33 (36.4%) from the field and 0-for-7 from 3-point range opened the door for the hosts.
 
A pair of free throws by Mostapha El Moutaouakkil with 16 seconds left in regulation gave the Gamecocks a three-point lead, but a foul at the other end on a 3-point shot gave the Aggies (14-15, 7-12 CUSA) a chance to tie the game at the free throw line which they did with two seconds to go to force overtime.
 
El Moutaouakkil finished with 23 points and seven rebounds.
 
Jacoby Hill pulled down an offensive rebound with just 48 seconds left in OT and made the putback to give his team a 73-72 lead but the Aggies connected on a 3-pointer at the other end to regain the lead. A pair of free throws with nine seconds left made it a two-possession game. Hill forced up a 3-point shot under duress with three seconds left and drew a foul.
 
After making the first two, he intentionally missed the second but the Gamecocks were unable to gather the loose ball and get off another shot.
 
Hill recorded his first career double-double with a team-best and career-high 24 points and a career-best 15 rebounds including six on the offensive glass.
 
The Gamecocks led 33-24 at halftime after going 12-of-31 from the field and 4-of-8 from 3-point land. Emondrek Erkins-Ford had 10 of his 14 points on the night in the first half. The Aggies were just 2-for-11 from the field, falling behind 21-6 with 10:22 left in the half.
 
Jax State built the lead back up to 14 with 8:05 left in regulation on a second-chance layup by Erkins-Ford but 2:23 later, the hosts were within single digits as the Gamecocks missed their next three field goals and committed a turnover.
 
The Gamecocks will wrap up the regular season on Saturday at UTEP at 2 p.m. Central.