JACKSONVILLE – The Gamecocks survived a late scare to improve to 6-0 at home with a 62-60 win Monday over Howard at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 
Jacksonville State (9-3) rallied from a four-point deficit at the half to outscore the Bison (2-11) 39-33 in the second.
 
The contest came down to the last second with the Gamecocks leading by one. A contested Malcolm Drumwright fell to give JSU the lead, 61-60, and a free throw from the senior just moments later cushioned the lead to two points.
 
With 23 seconds remaining, Howard's Michael Obindu snagged an offensive rebound and the Bison called timeout. Shooter Charles Williams, who had one 3-pointer in the game already, fired up a trey with two seconds on the clock. The shot banked off the back of the iron and JSU's Christian Cunningham pulled down the board to secure the win.
 
"We got one of their best shots tonight," head coach Ray Harper said. "RJ Cole is one heck of a player, and he played like it tonight, but I thought Marlon Hunter did a good job of guarding him late."
 
Cole finished the night with 27 points and was 6-for-11 from beyond the arc, but the JSU defense was able to keep the ball out of his hands in the dwindling seconds.
 
"You can learn from wins just like you can losses, "Harper said. "Hopefully we learned a lesson here tonight. We're 2-2 in these situations. We beat Chattanooga in overtime, but lost to Mississippi State and Oregon State late. We have to come back Thursday and be focused for UTC so we can go into the break on a positive note."
 
The Gamecocks had four score in double-figures with Jason Burnell and Ashton Spears leading the way with 14 each. Drumwright posted 12 and Hunter pitched in 11.
 
Despite being outrebounded 37-31, JSU forced 16 turnovers and totaled 14 assists. The Gamecocks won the battle in the paint 28-12 and scored 18 points off turnovers. The difference in the game came at the free throw line as Jacksonville State hit 17 of 21 freebies while Howard was 6-for-9 from the line.
 
The Gamecocks return to The Pete Thursday, Dec. 21 to take on Chattanooga at noon. Following the holiday break, JSU opens Ohio Valley play against Eastern Kentucky at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 28 at home, followed by a home matchup with Morehead State on Dec. 30 at 4:30 p.m.
 
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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