JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team claimed its third Ohio Valley Conference win of the season Saturday night with a nail-biting 71-68 win over Austin Peay at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 
The Gamecocks (10-8, 3-1 OVC) scored three points in the final 57 seconds to break a 68-68 knot. Senior Erik Durham put JSU ahead with a layup, and junior Norbertas Giga hit both chances of a one-and-one to make it a three-point game.
 
Junior Malcolm Drumwright recorded a season-high 25 points, while Greg Tucker and Durham scored 13 and 11 points, respectively. JSU was an outstanding 20-for-22 (90.0%) from the free throw line.
 
Improving to 3-1 in the conference, Jacksonville State is 3-1 to begin OVC play for the first time since the 2005-06 season under then-head coach Mike LaPlante.
 
Austin Peay (4-13, 0-3 OVC) opened the game on a 9-2 run, putting the Gamecocks in a quick seven-point hole. JSU found a 4-0 run to shorten the Govs' lead to three, 9-6, before the first media timeout.
 
The Governors led for more than 15 minutes in the first period, and Jacksonville State would not come within two points of the AP lead until the 4:25 mark. Durham hit a couple of free throws to tie the game 24-24, and Christian Cunningham hit two more to put the Gamecocks ahead 26-24.
 
The lead exchanged hands once more before the half as Austin Peay went to the locker room with a 31-30 advantage. Tied 30-30 with 19 seconds to go in the half, AP guard Josh Robinson knocked down the front end of a one-and-one to put his team up by one.
 
The Gamecocks outscored the Govs 41-37 in the second half. It's Jacksonville State's third win when trailing at the half, improving to 3-6 in the situation.
 
JSU wraps up its three-game homestand Tuesday, Jan. 10 against non-conference Fort Valley State. The Gamecocks then begin a three-game road trip that includes treks to Tennessee Tech, Belmont and Tennessee State.
 
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).