BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team fell to in-state rival Samford on Sunday afternoon at the Pete Hanna Center, despite holding the Bulldogs to 17 points below their home-scoring average this season.
 
Even facing a seven-point halftime deficit, JSU (5-4) led or was tied with the Bulldogs for more than 20 minutes of action before Samford (5-4) closed out the game late for an 81-77 win.
 
Senior Greg Tucker's 20 points led the charge of four Gamecocks to post double-digit scoring figures. Freshman Ashton Spears was next with a career-high 14.
 
The Gamecocks controlled the opening possession, which resulted in junior Malcolm Drumwright's first basket to hand JSU the early 2-0 advantage. The Bulldogs would even the score at 9-9 with just over 15 minutes to play in the half, following their third-straight three to open the game. Drumwright responded with a triple of his own on the ensuing possession to reclaim JSU's lead. The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., native started strong, including adding another three at the nine-minute mark to give JSU its largest cushion, 28-20.
 
However, SU would use a 16-2 run over the next four minutes and change to take a 36-30 lead. The Bulldogs first lead of the afternoon came at 32-30 on Christen Cunningham's steal and fastbreak layup.
 
Birmingham's Ashton Spears brought a halt to Samford's run, drilling a three with 4:55 to play. The freshman would continue with back-to-back buckets to fuel a 7-0 streak for the visitors to make it 37-36 late in the opening half. For Spears, the seven points in 1:38 far surpassed his previous career-best of two points.
 
Despite a 63-percent shooting half, JSU entered the locker room at halftime trailing 45-38, after only managing a single free throw down the stretch.
 
JSU opened the second stanza on an 8-1 run, courtesy of a couple of baskets from Durham, to even things at 46-all. The Gamecocks regained the lead after breaking the press and finding Cunningham below the bucket for an easy slam to make it 52-50.
 
A technical foul against the Gamecocks with just over 12 minutes remaining gave Samford the chance to even the score again at 56. Overall, the back-and-forth contest featured 13 ties and 11 lead changes.
 
Samford slowly increased its advantage back to six, only to see Tucker reel off six straight to make it 67-67 with 4:30 remaining. Unfortunately, the Gamecocks hit another scoring drought toward the end of the second half similar to first. Down seven, Spears buried a three with 54 ticks remaining to give Jax State one last chance, but the Dogs sealed the deal going 6-for-6 from the line in the final minute.
 
The Gamecocks hit the court again on Dec. 10 as they take on the University of Louisiana at Monroe on the road. It is the first of three games on a six-day road trip that takes the team to Maryland and Howard University.
 
For more information on the JSU men's basketball team, follow the Gamecocks on Twitter (@JSU_MBB). For more on all Gamecocks sports teams, follow the official social media accounts of JSU Athletics on Twitter (@JSUGamecocks), Facebook (Facebook.com/JSUGamecocks), Instagram (@JSUGamecocks) and Snapchat (@JSUGamecocks).