JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Kori Babineaux scored 30 points and Jacksonville beat South Carolina Upstate 81-76 on Thursday night and remained tied for first place in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Babineaux was 12-of-27 shooting in reaching 30 for the third time this season and eclipsing 1,000 career points. Marcel White added 22 points for the Dolphins (16-13, 8-4), who are tied with North Florida while ensuring their first winning record in conference play since 2010-11.

Michael Buchanan and Deion Holmes scored 17 points each and Mike Cunningham 16 for the Spartans (9-20, 3-9).

A free throw by White and two by Holder gave the Dolphins a 77-74 lead with two minutes left. After Upstate missed three shots on a single possession, White added another free throw before Cunningham's layup cut it to 78-76 with 28 seconds left. Babineaux added two more free throws and White made a steal and free throw for the final score.