Final Stats

TROY – Jacksonville State used a 35-point second half effort to overcome a Troy halftime lead to down its in-state rival 66-58 at Sartain Hall on Wednesday night.

JSU moves to 2-0 on the season, while Troy falls to 0-3 on the season. It's the first 2-0 start for the Gamecocks since starting the 2006-07 campaign 3-0. Jax State also notched its first win against the Trojans a 59-56 win during the 2007 season. The eight-point road win is the ninth since JSU moved to Division I in 1995 and seventh by single digits.

After trailing the Trojans 36-31 at the intermission, the Gamecocks clawed back even 54-54 at the 3:54 mark of the final half and took its first lead of the second half at 55-54 after a free throw by Destiny Lane. Lane came off the bench for 14 critical points along with a career-high 14 rebounds. A Chelsey Johnson basket gave Troy its final advantage with 2:44 left in the contest, but junior Brittany Wiley hit back-to-back baskets in consecutive trips to give JSU a 59-56 lead. Wiley's jumper at 1:42 would be the final basket for the Gamecocks as they scored the next seven points off the free throw line. Jax State finished the game 17-of-27 from the charity stripe.

“I though defense in the second half won this game for us, said JSU coach Annette Watts. “Our bench really stepped up tonight and we hit free throws down the stretch. We had the right people at the line down the stretch. We have to continue to get better, but I am proud of this team.”

Wiley turned in a game-high 21 points and matched her career-high in made treys with four in the game. JSU, who did not hit a three-point in its opener on Sunday, connected on 9-of-23 from behind the arc at Troy.

Defensively, JSU held Troy to just nine baskets in the final 20 minutes. The Gamecocks also forced 19 turnovers and turned them into 13 points.

JSU Danielle Beneby added eight points and five rebounds in the win. Off the bench, Zenobia Pitts and Candice Carmine registered five points each. JSU's bench finished with a 31-10 advantage over Troy.

Donette McNair led all Troy scorers with 19 points along with pulling down 14 rebounds. Tenia Manuel pitched in 12 points.

The Gamecocks close out the two-game road trip on Saturday with a visit to Nashville, Tenn. to face Lipscomb University. Tip off is set for 6:30 p.m.