CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaking game Monday night at Oregon State, falling 70-69 to the Pac-12's Beavers at Gill Coliseum.
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The Gamecocks (7-3) were not able to upend the Power 5 program despite outscoring OSU (7-3) 34-26 in the paint and snagging five additional rebounds. Senior
Malcolm Drumwright tallied 20 points for the fourth time this season, while
Jason Burnell (14) and
Marlon Hunter (12) each recorded double-digit points.
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Hunter scored a half-best 12 points that helped the Gamecocks to a 36-33 advantage at the break. Jacksonville State out-worked the Beavers 18-14 in the paint, but lack of free throws kept the contest tight at the half. Oregon State was 10-for-14 from the line in the period, while JSU shot and made just four free throws.
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The Gamecocks out-rebounded the home team 19-13 in the period, and their stout defense held the Beavers from hitting a field goal for a six-minute stretch halfway through the opening stanza.
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Drumwright posted 12 of his 20 points in the second half, but the Beavers out-scored JSU 37-33 in the closing period to lay claim to the nail-biter. The Gamecocks had an opportunity at a game-winning basket in the final seconds, but the Oregon State defense was too strong in the end.
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The loss snaps a three-game winning streak that included victories over Alabama State, Samford and ULM. JSU falls to 2-3 on the road this season.
The Gamecocks return to Pete Mathews Coliseum Dec. 16 to open up a five-game home stand against USC Upstate at 3 p.m. The stretch continues with Howard on Dec. 18 and Chattanooga on Dec. 21 just before the Christmas holiday.
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Tickets are now available for purchase online at JSUGamecocksTickets.com, by phone at (256) 782-8499 and on campus at the JSU Ticket Office at Kennamer Hall. Children 18-years-old and under and JSU students are admitted free.
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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).
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