Jacksonville State overcame a 19-point first-half deficit Saturday, defeating WKU Men’s Basketball 85-83.
WKU was up 35-16 with 9:38 remaining until halftime. From there, the Gamecocks went on a 25-9 scoring run that went into the first 1:19 of the second half, tying it up. The game had nine lead changes and ended with a game-sealing turnover for the Gamecocks.
JSU was led by senior guard Jaron Pierre Jr., who scored 28 points on 50% shooting.
Senior guard Khristian Lander led the team with a career-high 30 points on 9-13 shooting. Fellow senior guard Braxton Bayless added 15 points, 13 in the first half, five rebounds and four assists. Senior forward Tyrone Marshall Jr. scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
The depleted Hilltoppers played only eight players as senior guard Enoch Kalambay was out due to illness, springing McHenry back into the starting lineup. Four of the five starters scored in double figures, but the team only managed two bench points.
WKU shot 55.2% from the field and 60% from beyond the arc in the first half. Those numbers dropped to 48.1% and 42.9% in the second half. They converted all 13 free throws in the game.
The 11 forced turnovers and five blocked shots by JSU were the difference in the game, including a late forced turnover against Lander that set the Gamecocks up with two free throws following a foul.
The Hilltoppers were outrebounded 7-3 on the offensive glass, which led to a 14-3 swing in second-chance points.
First Half
WKU won the jump ball and came out aggressive. They opened up with an 8-0 run at the 17:18 mark, with Marshall Jr. scoring two early baskets. The Gamecocks scored their first basket of the game, which was immediately answered by a Lander 3-pointer. A 6-0 JSU run was immediately responded to by WKU with a 10-0 run, putting them up 21-8 with 13 minutes remaining.
The Hilltoppers were up 42-26 with six minutes remaining, but JSU, led by Pierre Jr., hit four of their last five field goals, putting JSU within 13 with four minutes remaining. Then, in the blink of an eye, the Gamecocks went on a 7-0 run to end the half, putting them within six. WKU went scoreless the last 3:34 of the first half but took a 44-36 lead into the locker room.
Second Half
JSU came out the locker room and started on a 5-0 run, tying the game 44-44. Free throws gave the Gamecocks their first lead of the game at the 17-minute mark, going up 48-46. Throughout the second half, the teams traded leads eight times up until the 2:49 mark.
After a Pierre Jr. 3-pointer put JSU up 79-75 with 2:35 remaining, Lander hit a huge three cutting the deficit to one with 33 seconds remaining. The Gamecocks made two free throws to put them up 81-78, which were followed by Lander’s free throws with 19 seconds remaining.
With the score 83-80 with 10 seconds remaining, Lander lost the ball, resulting in a turnover that was confirmed by official review. The Hilltoppers fouledl, with JSU making the free throws to put them up 85-80. McHenry made a three at the buzzer, but the Gamecocks walked away with the 85-83 comeback victory.
WKU will return to Diddle Arena on Saturday, Feb. 15 to play Middle Tennessee State.
