JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — In a thrilling matchup on Thursday night, Jacksonville State triumphed over Louisiana Tech with a close score of 63-61. Jaron Pierre Jr. and Marcellus Brigham Jr. were standout players, each contributing 14 points to lead their team to victory.

With just 1:29 remaining in the game, Pierre secured a crucial basket, giving Jacksonville State a lead of 63-59. In addition to his scoring, Pierre excelled in other areas, finishing with seven rebounds and seven assists for the Gamecocks, who now hold a record of 10-7 overall and 2-2 within Conference USA. Brigham’s performance was notable as he made six of his 14 attempts from the field, including one from three-point range. Another key contributor was Koree Cotton, who managed to hit three of eight from long distance, adding 11 points to the scoreboard.

For the Bulldogs, Daniel Batcho emerged as the leading scorer with 19 points and secured eight rebounds. Amaree Abram supported the team with a balanced performance of 13 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Sean Elkinton also matched Abram’s score, contributing another 13 points for Louisiana Tech, whose current record stands at 13-5 and 2-3 in their conference play.

In the first half, Pierre managed to score eight points, but Jacksonville State went into halftime trailing by a score of 31-25. The second half saw Brigham stepping up offensively, scoring 10 points to help close the gap and eventually seize the win.

Both teams are set to return to action on Saturday, with Jacksonville State preparing to host Sam Houston, while Louisiana Tech will head to Kennesaw State for their next competition.