BREWTON, Ala. (Interstat) — A stark contrast in fortunes will be on display Thursday when the surging Shelton State Buccaneers visit the struggling Coastal Alabama Sun Chiefs in a men’s junior college basketball matchup.

The Buccaneers (18-6) enter on a three-game winning streak and sit near the top of the conference standings. They are coming off a dominant 87-57 victory over Gadsden State on Monday, where their depth was on full display. The Sun Chiefs (5-19), meanwhile, are looking to halt a two-game skid after a 123-105 road loss to Southern Union State on the same night.

Shelton State has been led by the efficient play of Rodwick Jackson. The guard has been a consistent contributor, averaging 14.3 points over his last seven games. He scored 12 points with six rebounds and four assists in just 14 minutes in Monday’s win. In the teams’ first meeting this season, a 111-80 Shelton State rout on Feb. 5, Jackson had 12 points and four rebounds.

Coastal Alabama will rely heavily on the standout production of Makhi Jones. The forward has been a workhorse, logging multiple 40-minute performances and averaging 28.8 points and 10 rebounds over his last four games. He scored 26 points with seven rebounds in the earlier loss to Shelton State. His season highlight was a 38-point, five-rebound effort in a 98-90 win over Lawson State on Feb. 16.

The Buccaneers have won seven of their last eight games, with their only loss in that stretch a narrow 77-70 defeat at Calhoun. The Sun Chiefs have found wins scarce, with only two victories in their last eleven contests.

Despite the lopsided records and Shelton State’s 31-point win in February, Interstat’s game simulator projects a highly competitive rematch, forecasting a 100-100 tie. The simulation suggests Coastal Alabama’s high-scoring potential, particularly from Jones, could challenge Shelton State’s more balanced attack.

Tipoff is set for Thursday, March 5, 2026, at Coastal Alabama’s home court.