Jacksonville, Ala. — On Saturday night, Jaron Pierre Jr. delivered a strong performance, scoring 20 points to lead Jacksonville State to a 70-62 victory over Sam Houston.
Pierre’s shooting was a mixed bag as he made 6 of 21 attempts, failing to sink any of his five attempts from beyond the arc, but he excelled at the free-throw line, making all 8 attempts, contributing significantly to the Gamecocks’ overall success.
Alongside Pierre, Quel’Ron House notched 19 points and recorded three steals, while Michael Houge added 10 points, shooting 50% from the field with a 5 for 10 performance.
On the opposing side, Josiah Hammons was the leading scorer for the Bearkats, finishing the game with 20 points. Cameron Huefner also made a solid contribution with 13 points, and Lamar Wilkerson added 12 points alongside six rebounds.
In the first half, Houge managed to score six points as Jacksonville State fell behind, ending the half at 32-26. However, Pierre’s remarkable performance in the second half, where he scored 18 points, was crucial in securing the eight-point win for Jacksonville State.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to return to action on Thursday. Jacksonville State will be traveling to face UTEP, while Sam Houston will be hosting Middle Tennessee.