JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — On Thursday night, Jacksonville State secured a 71-67 victory over Florida International, led by Jaron Pierre Jr., who contributed 14 points to the win.

Pierre’s performance included 4 successful shots out of 14 attempts, with a 3-point shooting percentage of 28.6% (2 for 7) and a strong free-throw performance hitting 4 of 6 attempts.

Marcellus Brigham Jr. added to the Gamecocks’ offense, scoring 11 points through effective shooting (4 of 6) and a perfect free-throw performance (3 for 3).

Mason Nicholson also made his mark with 10 points, shooting 80% from the field (4 of 5) and finishing with a 66.7% success rate from the free-throw line (2 of 3).

For the Panthers, Jayden Brewer led the team with 15 points while also recording two steals.

Vianney Salatchoum made a significant impact with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks, while Jonathan Aybar contributed 10 points to the team’s effort.

Unfortunately, the loss marked the sixth consecutive defeat for Florida International this season.

At halftime, Jacksonville State held a narrow lead over Florida International, 36-34, with Brigham scoring nine of his points in that half.

The deciding moment came with just under three minutes left in the game, as Jacksonville State established a lead that they maintained until the end.

Looking ahead, both teams have games scheduled for Saturday. Jacksonville State will host Liberty, while Florida International is set to travel to face Kennesaw State.