Jacksonville State Triumphs Over Western Kentucky 78-67
Monday, December 29, 2025, 7:00 PM ET · Pete Mathews Coliseum
Jacksonville State Gamecocks 78, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 67, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Jacksonville State Gamecocks?
Jacksonville State Gamecocks beat Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 78-67 at Pete Mathews Coliseum on December 29, 2025.
Who was favored in Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Jacksonville State Gamecocks?
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -135 (about 57% implied). The underdog won.
In an exciting NCAAB matchup, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks secured a decisive victory against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, finishing the game with a score of 78-67. This win marks an important moment for Jacksonville State as they continue to build on their recent performance, now holding a 6-6 record for the season.
The Gamecocks came into this game with a mixed bag of results, having won four of their last ten games, including a recent victory against the East Tennessee State Buccaneers on December 20, where they won 81-75. Over their last five games, they averaged 69.0 points scored while allowing 65.2 points, indicating a solid defensive effort. At home, Jacksonville State has a record of 3-4, while their overall away performance stands at 1-2. Their recent form has shown improvement, with their most recent win snapping a three-game losing streak.
On the other hand, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers entered the game with a record of 7-5 and had won six of their last ten games, although they faced a setback with a loss to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in their last outing, where they narrowly lost 81-82. Their scoring average over the last ten games was impressive at 84.7 points, but they also allowed an average of 77.5 points, highlighting some defensive vulnerabilities. The Hilltoppers have a home record of 5-3 and an away record of 1-1, indicating they have been more successful in familiar surroundings.
In terms of head-to-head matchups, Jacksonville State has had the upper hand against Western Kentucky this season, winning both previous meetings. The Gamecocks defeated the Hilltoppers 85-83 on February 8 and 73-67 on January 10, showcasing their ability to compete effectively against this opponent.
Injury reports showed no significant absences affecting either team, allowing both squads to field their strongest lineups. This factor likely contributed to the competitive nature of the game.
The betting market, as reported by DraftKings, had Western Kentucky favored by 2.5 points, with a total set at 142.5 for the game. The odds indicated a tight contest, reflecting the competitive nature of both teams this season.
The game took place at the Pete Mathews Coliseum, where the atmosphere was charged with excitement from the home crowd. Fans witnessed a thrilling contest that saw the Gamecocks pull away in the second half, showcasing their scoring prowess and defensive resilience.
Key moments in the second half included a series of free throws and critical baskets that allowed Jacksonville State to maintain control of the game. Notable plays included AC Bryant making a crucial dunk and Mostapha El Moutaouakkil contributing with free throws that extended the Gamecocks' lead. The final scoring plays solidified their victory, demonstrating their ability to capitalize on opportunities in the closing moments of the game.
Overall, this fixture highlighted Jacksonville State's ability to rise to the occasion against a formidable opponent, while Western Kentucky will need to reassess their strategies moving forward as they look to bounce back from this defeat.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | WKU -2.5 | 142.5 o -108 / u -112 | Western Kentucky Hilltoppers -135 · Jacksonville State Gamecocks +114 |
Leaders
- PointsAC Bryant23Jacksonville State Gamecocks
- AssistsEmondrek Erkins-Ford3Jacksonville State Gamecocks
- ReboundsMostapha El Moutaouakkil9Jacksonville State Gamecocks
- PointsArmelo Boone18Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
- AssistsGrant Newell4Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
- ReboundsTeagan Moore6Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Recent form
Jacksonville State Gamecocks
Last 10: 4-6Streak W170.4 scored · 63.3 allowed per game3-4 at home
- W81-75at East Tennessee State BuccaneersDec 20
- L59-62vs Eastern Kentucky ColonelsDec 18
- L73-77at Georgia State PanthersDec 13
- W66-39vs Auburn Montgomery SenatorsDec 7
- L66-73vs North Alabama LionsDec 2
- L43-56vs North Dakota State BisonNov 26
- L63-74at Arkansas State Red WolvesNov 25
- L65-71vs South Alabama JaguarsNov 20
- W74-67vs Coastal Carolina ChanticleersNov 15
- W114-39vs Reinhardt EaglesNov 10
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Last 10: 6-4Streak L184.7 scored · 77.5 allowed per game1-1 away
- L81-82vs Tulsa Golden HurricaneDec 20
- W102-59vs Campbellsville TigersDec 16
- L61-77at Marshall Thundering HerdDec 11
- W80-79vs Evansville Purple AcesDec 6
- W75-70vs Wichita State ShockersNov 29
- L91-97vs South Florida BullsNov 27
- L78-83vs Vanderbilt CommodoresNov 26
- W97-67vs Bethel (TN) WildcatsNov 19
- W95-82vs Tennessee State TigersNov 16
- W87-79at Eastern Kentucky ColonelsNov 11
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 26-8 | - | 17-3 |
| Sam Houston | 22-12 | 4 | 13-7 |
| Louisiana Tech | 20-14 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Western Kentucky | 18-14 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Middle Tennessee | 17-15 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Kennesaw State | 21-14 | 7 | 10-10 |
| Jacksonville State | 15-17 | 7 | 10-10 |
| New Mexico State | 16-16 | 9 | 8-12 |
| Missouri State | 16-18 | 9 | 8-12 |
| Florida International | 15-17 | 9 | 8-12 |
| UTEP | 11-20 | 8 | 7-13 |
| Delaware | 10-21 | 11 | 6-14 |
Box score
| Stat | Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | Jacksonville State Gamecocks |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 22-72 | 21-38 |
| Field goal % | 31 | 55 |
| Three-pointers | 9-36 | 9-18 |
| Three-point % | 25 | 50 |
| Free throws | 14-21 | 27-39 |
| Free throw % | 67 | 69 |
| Rebounds | 44 | 35 |
| Offensive rebounds | 24 | 5 |
| Defensive rebounds | 20 | 30 |
| Assists | 10 | 11 |
| Steals | 10 | 5 |
| Blocks | 4 | 6 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 17 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 16 | 12 |
| Fast-break points | 11 | 11 |
| Points in the paint | 22 | 24 |
| Fouls | 27 | 16 |
| Largest lead | 3 | 18 |
| Lead changes | 1 | 1 |
| Time in front | 3 | 89 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half35-52Mostapha El Moutaouakkil makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half38-52Armelo Boone makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jack Edelen assists)
- 2nd Half38-53Mostapha El Moutaouakkil makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half38-54Mostapha El Moutaouakkil makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half41-54Armelo Boone makes 25-foot three point jumper (Teagan Moore assists)
- 2nd Half41-57AC Bryant makes 24-foot three point jumper (Emondrek Erkins-Ford assists)
- 2nd Half43-57Cam Haffner makes layup
- 2nd Half43-58Emondrek Erkins-Ford makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half45-58Jack Edelen makes 7-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half45-59Jacoby Hill makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half45-60Jacoby Hill makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half46-60Teagan Moore makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half47-60Teagan Moore makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half49-60Teagan Moore makes layup
- 2nd Half49-61Iaroslav Niagu makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half51-61Teagan Moore makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half51-62AC Bryant makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-63AC Bryant makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-63Jack Edelen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-63Jack Edelen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-64Jaye Nash makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-66Emondrek Erkins-Ford makes layup (AC Bryant assists)
- 2nd Half54-66Teagan Moore makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-66Teagan Moore makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-68Jacoby Hill makes layup (Emondrek Erkins-Ford assists)
- 2nd Half57-68Grant Newell makes 0-foot tip in dunk
- 2nd Half59-68Armelo Boone makes layup
- 2nd Half59-69Mostapha El Moutaouakkil makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-70Jaye Nash makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-71Jaye Nash makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-71Teagan Moore makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-71Teagan Moore makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-72AC Bryant makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-73Mostapha El Moutaouakkil makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-75AC Bryant makes 3-foot dunk (Jacoby Hill assists)
- 2nd Half64-75Teagan Moore makes 24-foot three point jumper (Armelo Boone assists)
- 2nd Half64-76Jacoby Hill makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-76Cam Haffner makes 28-foot three point jumper (Jack Edelen assists)
- 2nd Half67-77Jacoby Hill makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-78Mostapha El Moutaouakkil makes free throw 1 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Jacksonville State Gamecocks, below favours Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
Venue
- Pete Mathews ColiseumJacksonville, AL
- Attendance1755
- OfficialsBlake Harris, Bharat Ramnanan, Michael Husted
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