JACKSONVILLE – Malcolm Drumwright's 22 points were not enough to carry the Jacksonville State men's basketball team Thursday night, dropping a 67-63 decision to UT Martin at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 
For the fifth consecutive game, at least one Gamecocks bucketed 20-or-more points. Drumwright's 22 points tonight marks his fourth contest in five in which he has scored 20-or-more, as well.
 
Despite outscoring the Skyhawks 40-34 in the second half, it wasn't enough to overcome a 23-point first half. UT Martin's defense kept JSU to a 21.9 shooting percentage in the first period, hitting seven of 32 shots. Drumwright led the Gamecocks with six first-half points, hitting two of nine attempts.
 
Jacksonville State began the second half with a 7-4 run, climbing within five points of the UT Martin lead. JSU continued to chip away at the advantage, eventually reclaiming the lead with five minutes remaining in the game. Junior Marlon Hunter picked off a pass, was fouled on a runner, hit the basket and knocked down the free throw to put the Gamecocks up 51-49 – their first lead since the early minutes of the first half.
 
The lead changed hands six more times before the end of the game, and a loud Pete Mathews crowd was on its feet with less than a minute to go. With 37 seconds remaining in the game, Drumwright stepped back and drilled a go-ahead 3-pointer that put JSU up 63-61. UT Martin immediately called a 30-second timeout, as momentum swung in the Gamecocks' favor, but the Skyhawks dropped another clutch 3-pointer with 29 seconds to go.
 
Martin's Fatodd Lewis hit his only 3-pointer of the night to put the Skyhawks ahead 64-63. JSU fouled twice in an attempt to regain possession and the advantage, but one of two fouls shot fell for Darius Thompson and Terrence Parker hit both is his free throws to put the game out of reach.
 
Of the 12 Gamecocks to see playing time, 10 put points on the board. Jason Burnell was JSU's second leading scorer with seven points, while Ashton Spears, Jamall Gregory and Norbertas Giga each tallied six.
 
Jacksonville State won the rebounding battle 48-32. Giga led on the boards with 12, and Burnell pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds.
 
Delfincko Bogan led the Skyhawks in scoring with 21 points, while pitching in five steals and four assists. He was 9-for-14 from the floor and 3-for-6 from beyond the arc.
 
The Gamecocks look to regroup and get back on track Saturday night against Southeast Missouri. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 
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).