Gamecocks Grapple but Blue Raiders Secure Victory at Murphy Athletic Center
The Jacksonville State Gamecocks faced a challenging contest against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, culminating in a 67-75 defeat. The Gamecocks now stand with their record reflecting the outcome of this intense conference game. The final scoreline, however, does not fully encapsulate the ebb and flow of the match that took place at Murphy Athletic Center.
The Gamecocks entered the second half trailing by 12 points after scoring 23 to the Blue Raiders' 35 in the first half. Despite this deficit, they managed to rack up an additional 44 points in a valiant effort to close the gap. The team's offensive efforts were highlighted by their ability to capitalize on turnovers, scoring 13 points off these opportunities. They also dominated inside with a significant 36 points in paint contribution.
Defensively, Jacksonville State showed tenacity with eight steals and four blocks throughout the game. Their rebounding was strong as they collected a total of 34 rebounds—17 defensive and an additional nine on offense which contributed to their second-chance point tally of 19.
On offense, field goal attempts for Jacksonville State totaled at 61 with a completion rate of approximately 43 percent overall; from beyond the arc, they shot at around a rate of nearly one-third successful attempts out of fourteen taken. Free throw accuracy was notable as well; sinking roughly three-quarters out of fifteen attempted shots.
Conversely, Middle Tennessee's performance was marked by higher efficiency from three-point range where they hit nearly half their nineteen attempts contributing significantly to their final score tally. Their free throw proficiency stood out as well with an impressive approximate success rate of four-fifths from twenty attempts.
As for individual contributions from Jacksonville State players – although specific player statistics are not provided – it is clear that teamwork played an essential role given seven assists were recorded alongside their collective scoring efforts.
Looking ahead for Jacksonville State Gamecocks fans: The next challenge will be on home turf against Liberty Flames at Pete Mathews Coliseum located in Jacksonville, Alabama. This upcoming game is scheduled for January 27th at noon local time (5:00 PM Eastern Time). Fans eager to follow every play can tune into ESPN+ where live coverage will be broadcasted over internet streaming platforms.