Ray Harper recorded his 600th career win in style on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, leading Jacksonville State to an impressive 81-64 victory over Georgia Tech in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). This significant milestone comes as Harper’s 169th win with the Gamecocks, marking their first appearance in the NIT with a performance that showcased their resilience and talent.
The team, which recently fell short in the Conference USA championship game to Liberty, demonstrated a fierce competitive spirit against the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta. Harper expressed his pride in the team, stating, "I’m really proud of these kids. We just lost a tough game on Saturday in a championship game. We battled all year. We had eight scholarship guys, and I was asked by ESPN today what they need to know about this team. I said you need to know that they’ll compete. I don’t know the outcome, but we will compete. I think they showed that tonight."
Leading the Gamecocks in scoring was Jaron Pierre Jr., who showed why he was the Conference USA Player of the Year, netting 30 points on an impressive shooting night, going 11-for-18 from the field and 5-for-10 from three-point range. In addition to his scoring, Pierre also contributed with 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals, highlighting his all-around game and consistent effort during the match. “It’s just playing the right way all the time, trusting my teammates, not really flushing them out of things,” Pierre reflected on his performance. "I mean, a few shots were forced, but just overall, playing the game the right way."
Jacksonville State started strong, heading into halftime with a 45-33 lead. After halftime, the Gamecocks continued their dominant display, with Koree Cotton extending the lead with a fastbreak layup. Their shooting was also noteworthy, as they went 15-for-30 from beyond the arc and 31-for-60 from the field overall. The depth of the squad was also on display, with Jao Ituka contributing 14 points off the bench, while Marcellus Brigham Jr. added 16 points, demonstrating the collective effort that led to this victory.
Georgia Tech struggled to find their rhythm, especially in the first half, shooting only 34.4% from the field. Despite players Duncan Powell and Lance Terry leading the Yellow Jackets with 15 points each, they couldn’t overcome the early deficit and remained behind throughout much of the game. Coach Harper pointed out that the Gamecocks' preparation was key: “Jao didn’t play a lot in the last couple of games of the year, or in the tournament. But yesterday in practice, I thought he was great. I thought he was vocal. I was like ‘He’s locked in guys, and we’re going to need him. He showed up big for us. He made four 3s, four-for-nine, he can do that.”
This match was more than just a milestone for Coach Harper; it was a testament to the Gamecocks' journey through adversity. Harper noted, “Later on, I’ll think about it, but when they put it on that ball, it looked better with 600 Georgia Tech than probably what it would have looked in our opening game next year.” He expressed pride in finishing strong, especially given the team was predicted to finish near the bottom of their league. “We were picked either eighth or ninth in our league this year, out of a 10-team league, we finished second, one game behind Liberty. We win our last game at home, we tie.”
Anticipation builds as the Gamecocks look ahead to their next match in the NIT, where they will face either UC Irvine or Northern Colorado. Harper, reflecting on the quick turnaround and overall progress of the team, concluded, “Everything you guys have been through this year, you guys had a good year. I said, ‘Wait a minute here, regardless of what we went through this year, we had a great year.’” The Jacksonville State Gamecocks have not only shown resilience but have set a promising tone for the future as they continue their tournament journey.
