Box Score

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Brian Williams' attempt to tie the game fell short at the buzzer on Saturday night, and Jacksonville State's bid at its first win at Austin Peay ended in a 60-57 loss to the preseason favorite to win the Ohio Valley Conference at the Dunn Center.

After battling back from a 10-point deficit with less than five minutes to play, the Gamecocks (6-14, 1-6 OVC) pulled to within one in the final seconds. Govs (5-13, 2-3 OVC) freshman Jerome Clyburn converted on a pair of free throws with eight seconds left to push their lead back to three, but JSU couldn't force overtime in dropping its ninth game in as many visits to the Dunn Center.

Three Gamecocks scored in double figures, led by junior Tarvin Gaines' 13 points off of the bench. It was somewhat of a resurgence for the West Memphis, Ark., native, who failed to score in his last three games after leading JSU in scoring before that point. He also grabbed four boards.

Sophomore Nick Cook scored 10 points and led JSU with six boards, while putting back a career-high six blocked shots for JSU. Junior Ronnie Boggs added 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting, while also picking up four rebounds.

Boggs, a native of Kansas City, Mo., made his first four field goal attempts before missing his first of the second half to snap a streak of nine-straight makes from the floor. He is now 18 for his last 23 from the field. Williams and freshman Darion Rackley each scored seven, while Williams dished a game-high six assists.

The Govs got 12 points from Melvin Baker and 10 from Josh Terry, while Clyburn added nine in the win. John Fraley scored eight and used nine rebounds to lead the Govs to a 33-29 advantage on the glass. Peay shot 44 percent from the floor in the game, a number that was bolstered by a 56-percent effort in the second half.

The Gamecocks and Govs battled back and forth for much of the first half, one that saw six ties and three lead changes and neither team lead by more than five. JSU held that five-point advantage at 26-21 with just over four minutes left before the half, but Peay battled back to tie it at 28-28 going to the intermission.

Gaines led all players with nine first-half points, while Boggs went-4-for-4 from the floor to score eight.

The Gamecock defense stood firm to start the second half but JSU couldn't avoid a run by the Govs. Despite holding APSU without a field goal for over seven minutes early in the half, the Govs went to the free throw line to build a seven-point lead just past the halfway mark of the second half.

Peay found its first double-digit lead of the night with 5:09 on the clock, thanks to a Baker jumper that put the Govs up 54-44. JSU battled back, though, pulling to within four with just 90 seconds left on a Darion Rackley layup that made the score 56-52.

A Cook runner with 45 seconds left cut the deficit to two, and, after a pair of free throws that pushed the Govs lead back to four, Williams knocked down a three that brought JSU to within one with 14 ticks on the clock. JSU was forced to foul Clyburn, who made both attempts to set up Williams attempt at forcing overtime.

The Gamecocks will wrap up their three-game road swing on Thursday at Tennessee Tech. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Cookeville, Tenn., and the game will be broadcast live on the Gamecock Sports Network with Mike Parris calling the action.