JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team dropped a hard-fought matchup with Austin Peay Saturday evening at Pete Mathews Coliseum. The Governors topped the Gamecocks 87-67 to hand JSU just it's second Ohio Valley Conference loss of the season.
 
"We got out-toughed," head coach Ray Harper said. "They out-toughed us every way possible. They rebounded, grabbed loose balls, had more 50/50 balls and had more energy. They were the tougher team and deserved to win the game."
                                             
Jacksonville State (13-6, 4-2 OVC) was held to 32.4% shooting, hitting 22-of-68 shots over the contest, while Austin Peay (10-8, 5-1 OVC) was 33-for-54 (61.1%). The Govs won the rebounding battle 40-34, and scored 10 more points in the paint than the home team.
 
Despite the loss, senior Malcolm Drumwright posted his second consecutive 20-point game, hitting four 3-pointers along the way and going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. It was the sixth 20-point of the season for the guard, tying his season-high, and the 16th time in his career he's scored 20-or-more in a game.
 
Junior Jason Burnell accounted for 14 of the Gamecocks' points, shooting 6-for-11 from the floor. He also pitched in two assists, a steal and four boards.
 
Austin Peay's Averyl Ugba scored 35 points, hitting 17 of 21 shots taken, and shooter Zach Glotta tallied 20 with four 3-pointers.
 
Jacksonville State outscored APSU 42-39 in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome a 23-point deficit at the half. The game got off to a promising start with the Gamecocks going up by three at the 17:32 mark, but the Governors would charge back and take a double-digit lead halfway through the period.
 
The Govs' lead swelled to 30 six minutes into the second half, prompting a 14-5 Gamecock run to pull within 21, but the two teams traded baskets near-even for the remaining 10 minutes.
 
The Gamecocks now it the road to take on Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky. Thursday's matchup in Morehead, Ky., is set for 6 p.m. and will broadcase on CBS Sports Network. Jacksonville State squares off against Eastern Kentucky Saturday at 6 p.m. in Richmond, Ky.
 
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.
 
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).