JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — In a game defined by runs and answered by counter-runs, Jacksonville State used a decisive early surge and clutch late free throws to hold off a furious second-half comeback by Louisiana Tech, securing a 64-60 victory in a Conference USA men’s basketball matchup Saturday night at Pete Mathews Coliseum.

The most critical sequence of the contest came not in the final seconds, but in the opening minutes, setting a tone the Bulldogs could never fully overcome. After a disjointed start from both teams, the Gamecocks erupted. Sparked by the hot hand of Mostapha El Moutaouakkil, Jacksonville State unleashed a 14-0 run in just over three minutes, turning a 2-2 tie into a commanding 16-2 lead. El Moutaouakkil, a junior from Rabat, Morocco, scored or assisted on 11 of those points, hitting a pair of three-pointers and a layup while dishing an assist on another triple.

Louisiana Tech, visibly rattled, missed seven of its first eight shots and committed two turnovers during the devastating stretch. The Bulldogs spent the remainder of the evening laboring uphill, a task made more difficult by Jacksonville State’s efficient perimeter shooting. The Gamecocks finished 10 of 23 from beyond the arc, a stark contrast to Louisiana Tech’s 4-of-17 performance from deep.

Despite the early hole, the Bulldogs chipped away, largely on the shoulders of guard DJ Dudley. The junior from Inglewood, California, delivered a game-high 25 points on 9-of-22 shooting, adding two assists. His driving layup with 4:02 remaining in the game capped a 10-2 Louisiana Tech run and finally tied the score at 60-60, completing the comeback from an 18-point first-half deficit.

The response from Jacksonville State was immediate and decisive. On the ensuing possession, Emondrek Erkins-Ford of Chicago sank a crucial three-pointer from the top of the key, assisted by Jaye Nash, to put the Gamecocks back ahead 63-60 with 57 seconds left. Louisiana Tech had two chances to tie but came up empty. Dudley missed a contested three-pointer, and after a defensive stop, Avery Thomas of Jackson, Mississippi, missed a driving layup with one second left.

Jaye Nash sealed the win by making one of two free throws with 0.4 seconds remaining for the final margin. El Moutaouakkil led Jacksonville State with 18 points, while AC Bryant of Shreveport, Louisiana, added 15, including three three-pointers. JaCoby Hill of Phenix City, Alabama, contributed eight points and a game-high four assists for the Gamecocks.

Beyond the arc, the statistical disparity told the story. Jacksonville State’s 10 made threes provided a 30-point boost, while Louisiana Tech managed only 12 points from long range. The Bulldogs compensated by dominating the glass, grabbing 11 offensive rebounds to Jacksonville State’s nine, and by shooting a near-perfect 12 of 13 from the foul line. However, they could not overcome 39% shooting from the field and a season-low five team assists.

Defensively, Jacksonville State’s seven steals and active hands disrupted the Bulldog offense, while Louisiana Tech’s interior presence, led by Melian Martinez of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with two blocks, helped keep them in the game.

The win elevates Jacksonville State to an even 9-9 overall record and provides a positive start to the conference home slate. Louisiana Tech, which had won two straight including a narrow 59-58 victory over Middle Tennessee earlier in the week, falls to 10-8. The Gamecocks, who were pregame 4.5-point favorites, outperformed the statistical prediction which gave them a 59% chance to win.

The announced attendance was 1,137. Both teams return to Conference USA action next Saturday, January 24. Jacksonville State will host Middle Tennessee, while Louisiana Tech returns home to face Kennesaw State.