JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Interstat) — Jacksonville State overcame a halftime deficit to defeat East Tennessee State 81-75 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at ETSU Athletic Center. The visiting Gamecocks, trailing 34-31 at halftime, surged with a 50-point second half to secure the road victory. Brian Taylor led all scorers with 20 points for the Buccaneers, while Cam Morris added 17 points and four rebounds. Iaroslav Niagu had three rebounds in 15 minutes for Jacksonville State. Jacksonville State improved to 5-6. East Tennessee State fell to 8-5. Attendance was 2,270.

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Interstat) — AC Bryant erupted for a season-high 29 points, leading a second-half surge that propelled Jacksonville State to an 81-75 upset victory over East Tennessee State in a non-conference men’s basketball game Saturday at the ETSU Athletic Center. The Gamecocks, who entered as 11.5-point underdogs, overcame a three-point halftime deficit by shooting a blistering 50 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range in the final 20 minutes. The win improved Jacksonville State to 5-6, while the Buccaneers fell to 8-5. The most important part of the game was a decisive 12-2 run by Jacksonville State early in the second half that flipped the momentum permanently. Trailing 34-31 at the break, the Gamecocks came out firing. Bryant, a 6-foot-3 guard from Shreveport, Louisiana, hit a three-pointer on the first possession. After a Marcus Fitzgerald steal and layup, Bryant drained another three to cap a personal 8-0 spurt that gave Jacksonville State a 39-34 lead it would not relinquish. East Tennessee State, which had a 73% probability to win according to pregame analytics, struggled to contain Bryant and forward Mostapha El Moutaouakkil. After a quiet first half, Bryant scored 21 of his 29 points after halftime, finishing 5 of 10 from beyond the arc. El Moutaouakkil, a 6-foot-6 sophomore from Rabat, Morocco, added 19 points and seven rebounds, providing a consistent scoring threat inside and out. The Buccaneers kept the game within striking distance behind the efforts of Brian Taylor, who scored 20 points, and Cam Morris, who added 17 points and three blocks. Jaylen Smith facilitated the offense with 15 points and five assists. East Tennessee State shot efficiently, making 53.7% from the field and 53.3% from three, but was ultimately undone by 10 turnovers and a 38-28 disadvantage in rebounding. Jacksonville State’s interior presence, led by Emondrek Erkins-Ford’s 17 points and eight rebounds, proved critical. The Gamecocks dominated points in the paint, 30-20, and converted 12 fastbreak points to the Buccaneers’ eight. Despite committing one more turnover, Jacksonville State was more effective capitalizing on mistakes, scoring 12 points off turnovers. The game was a stark contrast in styles. Jacksonville State played at a faster pace, using 65 possessions to East Tennessee State’s 60. Both teams were remarkably efficient offensively, with each posting an offensive rating above 125.0, but the Gamecocks’ volume and second-chance opportunities, fueled by eight offensive rebounds, made the difference. East Tennessee State led for much of the first half, using a 7-0 run to build an early 7-2 advantage. Their defense, which blocked six shots in the period, initially stifled Jacksonville State’s attack. The Buccaneers took a 34-31 lead into halftime after a late free throw by Smith, but the Gamecocks’ explosive start to the second half changed the complexion of the game. After Bryant’s initial burst extended the lead, Jacksonville State methodically maintained a two-possession cushion for most of the final 15 minutes. Every time East Tennessee State closed the gap, the Gamecocks had an answer, often from Bryant or Erkins-Ford. A Taylor three-pointer cut the deficit to 67-64 with just over three minutes remaining, but Bryant responded with a clutch three on the ensuing possession to push the lead back to six. The Buccaneers had a final chance in the closing seconds, down 79-75, but a missed three-pointer by Smith was rebounded by Erkins-Ford, who was fouled. He made both free throws to seal the victory for the visitors. Bryant’s performance marked a dramatic return to form after scoring just 17 total points in his previous three games combined. His backcourt mate, Fitzgerald, added key defensive plays with two steals. For East Tennessee State, the loss snapped a two-game home winning streak and served as a setback before entering Southern Conference play. The Buccaneers’ defense, which had been holding opponents to an average of 68.5 points, could not contain Jacksonville State’s balanced and efficient second-half attack. Attendance at the ETSU Athletic Center was 2,270. The combined score of 156 points sailed over the pregame over/under line of 133.5. Jacksonville State next plays at home against Western Kentucky on Dec. 29. East Tennessee State travels to face The Citadel on Dec. 31.

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Interstat) — A struggling Jacksonville State squad aims to halt a five-game skid when it visits a surging East Tennessee State team at ETSU Athletic Center on Saturday. The Gamecocks (4-6) have not won since a 66-39 victory over AUM on Dec. 7, with their most recent loss a 62-59 defeat to Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday. Guard Marcus Fitzgerald, a player to watch, led Jacksonville State with 13 points in 26 minutes in that contest. Fitzgerald’s production has been variable, scoring 13 points against Eastern Kentucky after being held to three points or fewer in his three previous appearances. Conversely, the Buccaneers (8-4) have won five of their last seven, including dominant non-conference home victories over South Alabama and Tusculum earlier this month. Their two losses in that stretch were competitive road games against power-conference foe North Carolina (77-58) and Austin Peay (76-75). East Tennessee State is led by guard Brian Taylor, who has been a consistent force. Taylor is coming off a 14-point, three-assist performance in 39 minutes at North Carolina and recorded a triple-double (14 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) against Central Arkansas on Nov. 29. His ability to impact the game across multiple statistical categories will be a primary challenge for the Gamecocks’ defense. The Buccaneers have showcased a potent offense at home, averaging 86.5 points in their four wins in Johnson City this season. Jacksonville State, which has failed to reach 65 points in four of its six losses, will need to find scoring consistency to keep pace. This matchup serves as a final non-conference tune-up for both programs before league play begins in January. East Tennessee State will open Southern Conference action on Jan. 3, while Jacksonville State begins its Conference USA schedule on Jan. 2. Tip-off is set for Saturday, Dec. 20, at ETSU Athletic Center.