E Kentucky defeats Jax State 59-62

Thrilling Upset: E Kentucky Edges Out Jax State 62-59

The Pete Mathews Coliseum in Jonesville, Mississippi, witnessed an instant classic on Friday night as the Eastern Kentucky Colonels (AWAY) came from behind to defeat the Jax State Tigers (HOME) 62-59. The non-conference matchup was billed as a battle of wits, and both teams delivered.

Trailing by nine points at halftime, E Kentucky's offense sparked to life in the third quarter, outscoring Jax State 22-10 to take a slim 38-29 lead into the final frame. The Colonels' comeback bid was fueled by Turner Buttry's 11 points in the period, including three clutch three-pointers.

Buttry led E Kentucky with 19 points, 5-11 from three-point range (41.7%), and 3 assists, while Montavious Myrick chipped in with 9 points and 13 rebounds. The Colonels' bench also played a crucial role, outscoring Jax State's reserves 10-2.

For the Tigers, Mostapha El Moutaouakkil led the charge with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. However, his team struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 0-for-4 three-point attempts (22% shooting).

The game's largest lead was 13 points in favor of E Kentucky, set early in the first half when Turner Buttry knocked down a trio of threes to give the Colonels an early 13-2 edge. Despite Jax State's valiant effort to mount a comeback, they could not overcome the deficit.

In the end, it was E Kentucky's superior efficiency on offense and defense that proved decisive. The Colonels' true shooting percentage (51.3%) dwarfed Jax State's (47.6%), while their turnover margin (27.9 TO Ratio) limited the Tigers' scoring opportunities.

The win propels Eastern Kentucky into the rankings, while Jax State drops to 0-4 on the season. The loss serves as a setback for a team that was looking to make a push in the Southland Conference standings.