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House and Jacksonville State defeat Middle Tennessee 70-68 in Conference USA Tournament semifinals

AP
Mar 14, 2025

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) Freshman Quel'Ron House led Jacksonville State with 20 points, including two free throws with 22 seconds remaining as the Gamecocks took down Middle Tennessee 70-68 on Friday in the Conference USA Tournament semifinals.

Jacksonville State will face Liberty in the championship game on Saturday.

House shot 6 for 10 (2 for 4 from 3-point range) and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line for the Gamecocks (22-11). Jaron Pierre Jr. scored 19 points, going 6 of 18 from the floor, including 2 for 8 from 3-point range, and 5 for 6 from the line. Marcellus Brigham Jr. shot 4 for 9, including 2 for 4 from beyond the arc to finish with 11 points, while adding nine rebounds.

Jlynn Counter led the Blue Raiders (22-11) in scoring, finishing with 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. Middle Tennessee also got 13 points from Jestin Porter. Essam Mostafa also put up 12 points.

Jacksonville State went into halftime tied with Middle Tennessee 35-35. House scored nine points in the half. Pierre scored 14 points in the second half.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

1st Half
MTSU
Blue Raiders
35
JVST
Gamecocks
35

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Blue Raiders gains possession)
19:37		Jlynn Counter misses two point jump shot
19:35		Essam Mostafa offensive rebound
19:33		Koree Cotton shooting foul (Essam Mostafa draws the foul)
19:33		Essam Mostafa misses regular free throw 1 of 2
19:33	+1	Essam Mostafa makes regular free throw 2 of 2	1-0
19:15	+2	Iaroslav Niagu makes two point hook shot (Jaron Pierre Jr. assists)	1-2
18:46		Torey Alston misses two point jump shot
18:44		Marcellus Brigham Jr. defensive rebound
18:29		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses three point jump shot
18:27		Iaroslav Niagu offensive rebound
18:25		Iaroslav Niagu turnover (bad pass)
18:08		Torey Alston turnover (bad pass) (Koree Cotton steals)
18:04		Jlynn Counter shooting foul (Koree Cotton draws the foul)
18:04	+1	Koree Cotton makes regular free throw 1 of 2	1-3
18:04		Koree Cotton misses regular free throw 2 of 2
18:04		Essam Mostafa defensive rebound
17:35		Jestin Porter misses two point jump shot
17:33		Blue Raiders turnover (shot clock violation)
17:17		Essam Mostafa shooting foul (Marcellus Brigham Jr. draws the foul)
17:17		Marcellus Brigham Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:17	+1	Marcellus Brigham Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	1-4
17:03	+3	Jlynn Counter makes three point jump shot	4-4
16:45		Quel'Ron House turnover (bad pass) (Jlynn Counter steals)
16:36	+2	Chris Loofe makes two point layup (Jlynn Counter assists)	6-4
16:05		Quel'Ron House turnover (traveling)
15:54		Jlynn Counter turnover (bad pass)
15:54		TV timeout
15:42		Michael Houge misses two point layup
15:40		Mason Nicholson offensive rebound
15:38		Jump ball. (Gamecocks gains possession)
15:34	+2	Michael Houge makes two point layup	6-6
15:21	+3	Justin Bufford makes three point jump shot (Camryn Weston assists)	9-6
15:06		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses three point jump shot
15:04		Koree Cotton offensive rebound
15:02		Koree Cotton turnover (bad pass) (Justin Bufford steals)
14:35		Camryn Weston misses three point jump shot
14:33		Marcellus Brigham Jr. defensive rebound
14:25		Jaron Pierre Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Jestin Porter steals)
14:20	+3	Jestin Porter makes three point jump shot	12-6
13:52		Justin Bufford blocks Mason Nicholson's two point dunk
13:50		Gamecocks offensive rebound
13:45		Gamecocks turnover (shot clock violation)
13:24	+2	Jestin Porter makes two point jump shot (Camryn Weston assists)	14-6
13:03		Quel'Ron House misses two point layup
13:01		Quel'Ron House offensive rebound
12:57	+2	Michael Houge makes two point layup	14-8
12:45	+3	Jestin Porter makes three point jump shot (Camryn Weston assists)	17-8
12:15	+2	Marcellus Brigham Jr. makes two point jump shot	17-10
12:01		Jestin Porter misses three point jump shot
11:59		Quel'Ron House defensive rebound
11:54	+2	Quel'Ron House makes two point layup	17-12
11:34		Chris Loofe misses two point layup
11:32		Marcellus Brigham Jr. defensive rebound
11:19		Camryn Weston personal foul
11:19		TV timeout
11:17		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses two point jump shot
11:15		Jlynn Counter defensive rebound
11:04	+2	Jestin Porter makes two point jump shot (Chris Loofe assists)	19-12
10:43		Michael Houge misses three point jump shot
10:41		Chris Loofe defensive rebound
10:19		Camryn Weston misses three point jump shot
10:17		Jaron Pierre Jr. defensive rebound
10:09	+3	Marcellus Brigham Jr. makes three point jump shot (Michael Houge assists)	19-15
9:37		Jlynn Counter turnover (bad pass) (Quel'Ron House steals)
9:23	+2	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes two point layup	19-17
9:23		Torey Alston shooting foul (Jaron Pierre Jr. draws the foul)
9:23	+1	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1	19-18
9:10	+3	Jestin Porter makes three point jump shot	22-18
8:45	+2	Marcellus Brigham Jr. makes two point layup (Quel'Ron House assists)	22-20
8:35	+2	Jlynn Counter makes two point jump shot	24-20
8:07		Quel'Ron House misses two point jump shot
8:05		Gamecocks offensive rebound
7:47	+2	Michael Houge makes two point hook shot	24-22
7:35		Jlynn Counter misses three point jump shot
7:33		Torey Alston offensive rebound
7:30		Jump ball. (Blue Raiders gains possession)
7:30		TV timeout
7:27		Jlynn Counter turnover (bad pass) (Iaroslav Niagu steals)
7:12		Marcellus Brigham Jr. misses two point hook shot
7:10		Essam Mostafa defensive rebound
6:46		Tre Green misses three point jump shot
6:44		Kamari Lands offensive rebound
6:28		Quel'Ron House personal foul
6:22		Kamari Lands turnover (lost ball) (Quel'Ron House steals)
6:07		Michael Houge turnover (lost ball) (Jlynn Counter steals)
6:07		Michael Houge personal foul
5:39		Jestin Porter misses two point jump shot
5:37		Gamecocks defensive rebound
5:20	+2	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes two point jump shot	24-24
5:04	+3	Kamari Lands makes three point jump shot (Justin Bufford assists)	27-24
4:37	+2	Koree Cotton makes two point jump shot (Michael Houge assists)	27-26
4:18	+3	Kamari Lands makes three point jump shot (Jestin Porter assists)	30-26
3:44	+3	Quel'Ron House makes three point jump shot (Michael Houge assists)	30-29
3:22	+2	Jlynn Counter makes two point jump shot	32-29
3:00	+2	Mason Nicholson makes two point dunk (Jaron Pierre Jr. assists)	32-31
2:40		Jlynn Counter misses two point layup
2:38		Blue Raiders offensive rebound
2:38		TV timeout
2:32		Kamari Lands misses three point jump shot
2:30		Michael Houge defensive rebound
2:16		Koree Cotton turnover (bad pass)
1:57		Koree Cotton shooting foul (Justin Bufford draws the foul)
1:57		Justin Bufford misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:57	+1	Justin Bufford makes regular free throw 2 of 2	33-31
1:34	+2	Quel'Ron House makes two point jump shot	33-33
1:15	+2	Chris Loofe makes two point dunk (Jestin Porter assists)	35-33
0:42		Iaroslav Niagu misses two point layup
0:40		Torey Alston defensive rebound
0:31		Blue Raiders 30 second timeout
0:11		Jlynn Counter misses two point jump shot
0:09		Michael Houge defensive rebound
0:01		Kamari Lands shooting foul (Quel'Ron House draws the foul)
0:01	+1	Quel'Ron House makes regular free throw 1 of 2	35-34
0:01	+1	Quel'Ron House makes regular free throw 2 of 2	35-35
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
MTSU
Blue Raiders
33
JVST
Gamecocks
35

Time		Play	Score
19:49		Jaron Pierre Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Justin Bufford steals)
19:31		Jlynn Counter misses three point jump shot
19:29		Jaron Pierre Jr. defensive rebound
19:20	+3	Koree Cotton makes three point jump shot (Quel'Ron House assists)	35-38
19:09		Jestin Porter turnover (bad pass)
19:03	+2	Quel'Ron House makes two point layup	35-40
18:47		Jlynn Counter misses three point jump shot
18:45		Essam Mostafa offensive rebound
18:41		Essam Mostafa misses two point layup
18:39		Marcellus Brigham Jr. defensive rebound
18:20		Quel'Ron House misses three point jump shot
18:18		Torey Alston defensive rebound
18:10		Mason Nicholson blocks Jestin Porter's two point jump shot
18:08		Mason Nicholson defensive rebound
18:03		Marcellus Brigham Jr. misses two point layup
18:01		Jestin Porter defensive rebound
17:53		Jestin Porter misses three point jump shot
17:51		Mason Nicholson defensive rebound
17:46		Koree Cotton misses two point layup
17:44		Jlynn Counter defensive rebound
17:22		Jlynn Counter turnover (bad pass)
17:22		Blue Raiders 30 second timeout
17:22		TV timeout
17:08		Michael Houge misses two point jump shot
17:06		Marcellus Brigham Jr. offensive rebound
16:59		Marcellus Brigham Jr. misses three point jump shot
16:57		Gamecocks offensive rebound
16:41		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses two point jump shot
16:39		Justin Bufford defensive rebound
16:26		Camryn Weston turnover (bad pass)
16:04	+3	Marcellus Brigham Jr. makes three point jump shot (Mason Nicholson assists)	35-43
15:52		Quel'Ron House personal foul
15:52		TV timeout
15:36		Jestin Porter misses two point jump shot
15:34		Michael Houge defensive rebound
15:22		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses three point jump shot
15:20		Blue Raiders defensive rebound
15:01		Marcellus Brigham Jr. shooting foul (Essam Mostafa draws the foul)
15:01	+1	Essam Mostafa makes regular free throw 1 of 2	36-43
15:01	+1	Essam Mostafa makes regular free throw 2 of 2	37-43
14:41	+2	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes two point jump shot	37-45
14:19		Jestin Porter misses two point jump shot
14:17		Mason Nicholson defensive rebound
14:01		Quel'Ron House turnover (bad pass)
13:46	+2	Essam Mostafa makes two point layup	39-45
13:24		Essam Mostafa shooting foul (Michael Houge draws the foul)
13:24	+1	Michael Houge makes regular free throw 1 of 2	39-46
13:24	+1	Michael Houge makes regular free throw 2 of 2	39-47
12:57		Kamari Lands misses three point jump shot
12:55		Jaron Pierre Jr. defensive rebound
12:46	+3	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes three point jump shot	39-50
12:32		Kamari Lands misses two point layup
12:30		Kamari Lands offensive rebound
12:29	+2	Kamari Lands makes two point layup	41-50
12:05		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses three point jump shot
12:03		Michael Houge offensive rebound
11:58		Michael Houge misses two point layup
11:56		Jlynn Counter defensive rebound
11:53		Tre Green misses three point jump shot
11:51		Camryn Weston offensive rebound
11:47	+2	Camryn Weston makes two point layup	43-50
11:47		Michael Houge shooting foul (Camryn Weston draws the foul)
11:47		TV timeout
11:47		Camryn Weston misses regular free throw 1 of 1
11:47		Michael Houge defensive rebound
11:24	+3	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes three point jump shot	43-53
11:07	+2	Jlynn Counter makes two point layup	45-53
10:49		Quel'Ron House turnover (lost ball) (Justin Bufford steals)
10:49		Iaroslav Niagu personal foul
10:36	+3	Camryn Weston makes three point jump shot (Jlynn Counter assists)	48-53
10:09	+2	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes two point jump shot	48-55
9:57		Jlynn Counter misses two point layup
9:55		Jaron Pierre Jr. defensive rebound
9:48		Justin Bufford personal foul
9:44		Camryn Weston personal foul
9:39		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses three point jump shot
9:37		Iaroslav Niagu offensive rebound
9:28		Michael Houge misses two point layup
9:26		Jestin Porter defensive rebound
9:25		Michael Houge personal foul (Jestin Porter draws the foul)
9:10		Essam Mostafa misses two point hook shot
9:08		Marcellus Brigham Jr. defensive rebound
8:50		Marcellus Brigham Jr. misses three point jump shot
8:48		Jlynn Counter defensive rebound
8:40		Jlynn Counter misses two point jump shot
8:38		Marcellus Brigham Jr. defensive rebound
8:22		Camryn Weston shooting foul (Jaron Pierre Jr. draws the foul)
8:22	+1	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	48-56
8:22	+1	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	48-57
8:10		Camryn Weston misses three point jump shot
8:08		Mason Nicholson defensive rebound
7:44		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses two point jump shot
7:42		Camryn Weston defensive rebound
7:26		Jestin Porter misses two point jump shot
7:23		Jaron Pierre Jr. personal foul
7:23		TV timeout
7:06	+3	Essam Mostafa makes three point jump shot (Jlynn Counter assists)	51-57
6:46		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses two point jump shot
6:44		Mason Nicholson offensive rebound
6:43		Essam Mostafa personal foul
6:34		Justin Bufford personal foul
6:25	+2	Quel'Ron House makes two point jump shot	51-59
6:07	+2	Essam Mostafa makes two point hook shot	53-59
5:42	+2	Mason Nicholson makes two point layup (Jaron Pierre Jr. assists)	53-61
5:27		Jaron Pierre Jr. personal foul
5:27	+1	Justin Bufford makes regular free throw 1 of 2	54-61
5:27		Justin Bufford misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:27		Marcellus Brigham Jr. defensive rebound
5:12		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses three point jump shot
5:10		Marcellus Brigham Jr. offensive rebound
5:05	+3	Quel'Ron House makes three point jump shot (Marcellus Brigham Jr. assists)	54-64
4:50	+3	Kamari Lands makes three point jump shot (Jlynn Counter assists)	57-64
4:47		Blue Raiders 30 second timeout
4:29		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses two point jump shot
4:27		Kamari Lands defensive rebound
4:18	+2	Jlynn Counter makes two point layup	59-64
3:49		Justin Bufford shooting foul (Jaron Pierre Jr. draws the foul)
3:49		TV timeout
3:49	+1	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	59-65
3:49	+1	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-66
3:35		Justin Bufford misses three point jump shot
3:33		Jlynn Counter offensive rebound
3:23	+3	Jlynn Counter makes three point jump shot (Essam Mostafa assists)	62-66
3:02		Jlynn Counter personal foul
3:02	+1	Quel'Ron House makes regular free throw 1 of 2	62-67
3:02	+1	Quel'Ron House makes regular free throw 2 of 2	62-68
2:51		Jaron Pierre Jr. shooting foul (Jlynn Counter draws the foul)
2:51	+1	Jlynn Counter makes regular free throw 1 of 2	63-68
2:51	+1	Jlynn Counter makes regular free throw 2 of 2	64-68
2:30		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses two point jump shot
2:28		Kamari Lands defensive rebound
2:23		Koree Cotton shooting foul (Justin Bufford draws the foul)
2:23		Justin Bufford misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:23		Justin Bufford misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:23		Koree Cotton defensive rebound
1:58		Quel'Ron House misses three point jump shot
1:56		Jlynn Counter defensive rebound
1:52		Quel'Ron House shooting foul (Essam Mostafa draws the foul)
1:52	+1	Essam Mostafa makes regular free throw 1 of 2	65-68
1:52		Gamecocks 30 second timeout
1:52	+1	Essam Mostafa makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-68
1:33		Justin Bufford personal foul (Jaron Pierre Jr. draws the foul)
1:33		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 1
1:33		Jlynn Counter defensive rebound
1:19	+2	Jlynn Counter makes two point layup	68-68
0:55		Marcellus Brigham Jr. misses two point jump shot
0:53		Mason Nicholson offensive rebound
0:51		Essam Mostafa shooting foul (Mason Nicholson draws the foul)
0:51		Mason Nicholson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:51		Mason Nicholson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:51		Jlynn Counter defensive rebound
0:38		Michael Houge shooting foul (Jlynn Counter draws the foul)
0:38		Jlynn Counter misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:38		Jlynn Counter misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:38		Michael Houge defensive rebound
0:31		Gamecocks 30 second timeout
0:22		Jlynn Counter shooting foul (Quel'Ron House draws the foul)
0:22	+1	Quel'Ron House makes regular free throw 1 of 2	68-69
0:22	+1	Quel'Ron House makes regular free throw 2 of 2	68-70
0:00		End of period

+ 1

Quel'Ron House makes regular free throw 2 of 2