JACKSONVILLE — Malcolm Drumwright scored 21 to lead three Gamecocks in double figures, but Samford pulled off a 77-71 win at Pete Mathews Coliseum in a renewal of JSU's oldest rivalry.
 
In the 89th meeting but the first time since the 2007-08 season the two schools have met on the hardwood, the Bulldogs (6-2) were 28-for-32 from the free throw line to hold off a Gamecocks (3-7) rally.
 
JSU got 14 apiece from freshman Christian Cunningham and junior Cam Biedscheid. Cunningham was 5-for-6 from the floor before sitting much of the second half with an injury.
 
Biedscheid was 5-for-13 from the floor and 3-for-9 from behind the arc in 27 minutes off the bench in his JSU debut. The transfer from St. Louis, Mo., made his first collegiate appearance since his freshman campaign at Notre Dame.
 
The Gamecocks took a 26-25 lead with 4:58 remaining in the first half off a Drumwright 3-point basket, but that was the last time JSU held a lead in the game. Drumwright scored his 21 points before fouling out with 26 seconds left trying to bring his team back. He also dished out four assists, brought down two rebounds and had two steals in a game-high 37 minutes of game action.
 
Cunningham also had a game-high three blocks and two rebounds, while Biedscheid brought down four boards and dished out three assists. Jared Hamilton and Erik Durham both finished with nine points each. Senior JaQuail Townser had a game-high six rebounds despite struggling in an 0-for-6 night from the floor.
 
With 6:25 remaining in the second half, Jacksonville State got as close a one point to Samford, but that was as close as the Bulldogs let the Gamecocks set for the remainder of the game.
 
Samford's lead was stretched out to eight with 1:05 remaining the game before Biedscheid and Durham sank a 3-point basket to the Bulldogs' two free throws to draw within three with 16 seconds before Darius Jones-Gibson sealed the win with three of four made free throws.
 
For Samford, Jones-Gibson finished with a team-high 12 points in 33 minutes as a starter. Jamal Shabazz and Alex Peters were the additional Bulldogs in double figures as they each had 13 and 10 points respectively. Wyatt Walker and Marcus Johnson scored eight points apiece while Walker had six boards.
 
The Gamecocks return to the court Saturday evening with a 7 p.m. tip-off when Jacksonville State plays host to Jacksonville.