East Central Alabama News

FLORENCE – The grand finale of Jacksonville State's men's basketball season didn't disappoint as the Gamecocks roll past rival North Alabama, 92-83, on the Lions home court to cap JSU's era in the ASUN Conference.
 
The 59 th all-time win in the rivalry's history for Jax State improved JSU to 13-18 for a final 2022-23 record. The Lions fell to 18-13 overall and 10-8 in league play as they head into the ASUN tournament on back-to-back losses.
 
The story heading into the night was whether senior Demaree King could reach Jeremy Bynum's Division I school record of 229 career three-pointers after the native of Tulsa, Okla., dropped a school-record 10 on Wednesday night to move to 224. With four first-half triples, King not only neared history, but kept the Gamecock in front in a hostile road environment.
 
King's record-tying triple came early in the second stanza to match Bynum's mark, but the two wouldn't share the honor for long. With Jax State up 63-60 with just over nine minutes remaining, King nailed a step-back trey, while drawing a foul, for his record-breaking basket. Following the four-point play, JSU led the rest of the way eventually increasing the margin to double digits briefly.
 
King would later add another three for good measure to run his career tally to 131. That was the story entering the night. However, Marcellus Brigham Jr. added his own chapter to the final book of the season dropping a career-best 25 in the season finale. He was joined by senior Skyelar Potter (16) and Juwan Perdue (14) in double figures on a night JSU 49-percent from the floor.
 
In his school record 133rd appearance for Jax State, senior Maros Zeliznak finished with a pair of points and six boards.
 
In addition to knocking off its historic rival on a historic night, Jax State will own the last win in the series until the two meet again in a non-conference bout. JSU will join Conference USA beginning this summer. 

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