JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Dec. 20, 2025) - The ETSU men's basketball team dropped its third straight result with an 81-75 loss to Jacksonville State at Freedom Hall on Saturday, snapping a 11 game home winning streak. 

The Buccaneers (8-5) led most of the first half and held a 34-31 lead at the break, but the Gamecocks (5-6) hit their first six shots of the second half and surged to a 51-40 advantage with 14:05 left. A 7-0 ETSU run capped by a Brian Taylor II three pointer tied the game at 55 and Cam Morris III tied it again at 57 1:26 later, but Emondrek Erkins-Ford gave JSU the lead back at 60-59 with a three-point play, and the Bucs never got back to level terms. 

Taylor scored 20 points for the third time this season, and Morris scored 17 including 9-for-11 from the free throw line. Jaylen Smith scored 15 points off the bench and led ETSU with five assists. The team shot 50% from the field, 53% from three and 79% from the free throw line. The Gamecocks won the final rebounding count 30-20. AC Bryant led JSU with 29 points off the bench including six made threes, supported by Mostapha El Moutaouakkil with 19 and Erkins-Ford with a career-high 17 and eight rebounds. 

The Buccaneers return to action on December 30 at The Citadel in their SoCon opener in Charleston. 

For more information on ETSU men's basketball, go to ETSUBucs.com.