Clash at McDermott Center: Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs. Incarnate Word Cardinals
As the Jacksonville State Gamecocks gear up for their next challenge against the Incarnate Word Cardinals at the McDermott Center, fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an enthralling encounter. The Gamecocks have shown a mix of grit and finesse in their recent outings, and this game on November 23 is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in their season.
In their last game on November 19 against North Alabama Lions, the Gamecocks fell just short with a score of 59-61. Despite this narrow loss, there were positive takeaways; they managed to put up an impressive 36 points in the paint and capitalized on turnovers by scoring 20 points off them. However, ball security was an issue as they turned over possession 21 times which ultimately may have cost them the game.
The shooting statistics from that night tell a story of missed opportunities – while they shot a decent field goal percentage of around 45 percent, their free throw percentage was only about 57 percent. Improving from the charity stripe could be crucial in tight games going forward.
Looking back further to November 15 against West Virginia Mountaineers, JVST scored only slightly less with a total of 57 points but struggled with field goal accuracy at just around 34 percent. Their three-point shooting was more reliable at approximately 39 percent but wasn't enough to secure victory as they lost by a margin of thirteen points.
However, it's not all doom and gloom for JVST fans. On November 11 against Utah Tech Trailblazers, despite going into overtime and eventually losing by two points (79-81), JVST showed resilience and offensive firepower. They excelled at free throws with an outstanding rate of nearly 88 percent while also grabbing rebounds aggressively – matching Utah Tech's total rebounds at thirty-seven each.
The upcoming match-up presents another opportunity for redemption for JVST as they face IW who will have home-court advantage but should not underestimate the tenacity of Jacksonville State Gamecocks' players who are eager to bounce back from recent setbacks.
With strategic adjustments focusing on reducing turnovers and maintaining defensive intensity without fouling too much (as seen by twenty-three personal fouls against UNA), JVST can turn things around. It's essential that they capitalize on every scoring opportunity presented especially when it comes down to free throws which could make all difference in close encounters like these past games suggest.
Fans can catch this exciting game scheduled for November 23rd at midnight CST live from San Antonio's McDermott Center or tune into ESPN+ online broadcast network for real-time coverage.