LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a massive comeback and a last-second escape, Jemel Jones scored 29 points and New Mexico State erased a 17-point deficit to force overtime before edging Jacksonville State 77-75 in a Conference USA men’s basketball thriller Thursday night at the Pan American Center.

A crowd of 6,648 saw the Aggies, who trailed by 17 in the first half and by nine at halftime, storm back behind Jones’ scoring and clutch play to survive in the extra period and even their season record at 14-15. Jacksonville State fell to 14-16.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final 10 seconds of overtime. With the score tied at 75, Jones, the Chicago native who played 40 minutes, was fouled by Jamar Franklin on a jump shot attempt with nine seconds remaining. He calmly sank both free throws to put the Aggies ahead by two.

Jacksonville State had one final chance. JaCoby Hill, who led the Gamecocks with 24 points, was fouled by Anthony Wrzeszcz on a desperate 3-point attempt with three seconds left, sending him to the line for three shots with a chance to win. Hill made the first two free throws to tie the game again but saw his third attempt rim out. New Mexico State’s Jayland Randall secured the defensive rebound as time expired, sealing the dramatic victory.

The game was a tale of two halves. Jacksonville State dominated the opening period, building a 33-24 lead at the break behind the inside-outside combination of Mostapha El Moutaouakkil and Emondrek Erkins-Ford. El Moutaouakkil, a junior from Rabat, Morocco, scored 23 points, while Erkins-Ford, a Chicago native, added 14 points and three blocks.

New Mexico State looked listless for much of the first half, but the momentum shifted drastically after halftime. The Aggies unleashed a 44-point second half, spearheaded by Jones, who repeatedly attacked the rim and hit key jumpers. Julius Mims of Billings, Montana, provided crucial interior support, finishing with 16 points, several on assists from Jones.

Jacksonville State’s offense, so fluid in the first half, stalled against a reinvigorated Aggie defense. The Gamecocks managed just one field goal over a critical five-minute stretch late in regulation as New Mexico State completed its comeback. A driving layup by Hill with 44 seconds left in the second half tied the game at 68 and ultimately forced overtime after both teams missed chances to win in the final seconds of regulation.

In the extra period, the teams traded blows. Iaroslav Niagu, Jacksonville State’s 7-foot center from Russia, made one of two free throws to give the Gamecocks a 75-74 lead with 1:47 left. Mims answered with a layup off a feed from Randall to put the Aggies back up by one. Hill then tied it again with a free throw, setting the stage for Jones’ game-winning foul shots.

Jones’ performance continued a stellar late-season run. Over his last four games, including a 34-point outing against Middle Tennessee, he has averaged 28 points. His leadership was paramount as New Mexico State fought back from a deficit that reached 33-16 in the first half.

For Jacksonville State, the loss was a crushing blow in a tightly contested contest they controlled for long stretches. Beyond Hill and El Moutaouakkil, the Gamecocks got 14 points from Erkins-Ford, but their offense scored only seven points in the decisive overtime period.

The game was a rematch of a Feb. 14 meeting in Jacksonville, which New Mexico State won 79-70. This victory gave the Aggies a regular-season sweep. Both teams close their regular seasons on Saturday, with New Mexico State hosting Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State traveling to face UTEP.

The total points scored, 152, went over the pregame over/under line of 142.5. New Mexico State entered the game as a 5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, a spread they narrowly covered with the overtime victory. National statistical services gave the Aggies a 61.5% probability of winning pregame.