Preview: Jacksonville State at New Mexico State

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum for the Conference USA tournament will meet Thursday when the Jacksonville State Gamecocks visit the New Mexico State Aggies at the Pan American Center.

Both sides enter the regular-season finale with nearly identical records. Jacksonville State is 14-15 overall, while New Mexico State sits at 13-15. The Gamecocks have lost four of their last five, including a narrow 81-78 home defeat to Liberty on Feb. 28. The Aggies are coming off a heartbreaking 86-85 overtime loss at Middle Tennessee on the same date.

This is a quick rematch from Feb. 14, when New Mexico State secured a 79-70 victory in Jacksonville. In that game, Aggies guard Jemel Jones scored 16 points with three rebounds and three assists. Jones is a key player to watch, fresh off a career-high 34-point performance against Middle Tennessee. Over his last seven games, he has averaged over 22 points per contest.

For Jacksonville State, guard JaCoby Hill will be central to its efforts. Hill scored 21 points in the loss to the Aggies last month and is coming off a 16-point outing against Liberty. His scoring consistency will be vital for a Gamecocks offense that has struggled at times during its recent slide.

The matchup features two defenses allowing opponents to score in the mid-70s on average. Whichever team can string together stops and manage late-game execution better will have an edge. Both squads have endured seasons marked by close losses, with nine of New Mexico State’s 15 defeats coming by single digits.

With the conference tournament looming, Thursday’s game offers a final chance for both Jacksonville State and New Mexico State to build confidence and improve seeding. The Aggies will look to protect their home court, where they are 8-6 this season, while the Gamecocks aim to level the season series and finish above .500 in league play.

Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. EST in University Park.