Oregon State is enjoying some early-season success, having beat Jacksonville State 70-69 in a contest that was tight from the tipoff to the final buzzer.
For those not familiar, Jacksonville State might sound like a small-conference pushover. That couldn't be further from the truth. The Gamecocks are small-conference but they are also big-time grit. Jacksonville State entered this game with a 7-2 record and made the NCAA Tournament last season after winning the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. They are well-coached and boast a dual-threat offensive attack that features excellent shooting from beyond the arc and tenacious offensive rebounding.