JACKSONVILLE – Senior Malcolm Drumwright posted 19 points and recorded a record-breaking start against Tennessee State on Satuday, but was not enough to overcome the hot-shooting Tigers, falling 65-47 at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 
Drumwright was 6-for-8 from the floor and 4-for-6 from long range to lead JSU scorers, and became the program's all-time, Division I starts leader with his 95th nod tonight. He surpassed former Gamecock Brian Williams (2010-14) who held the previous record with 94.
 
Aside from Drumwright's 19 points, the Gamecock offense was held to its second-lowest shooting percentage of the season. JSU (18-9, 9-5 OVC) shot 34% (16-for-47) and totaled less than 30 points in each half. Junior Christian Cunningham bucketed the second-most points with eight, while fellow junior Jason Burnell had seven.
 
"Tennessee State did a great job," head coach Ray Harper said. "They cut hard and defended us really well. But at some point you have to finish some plays, and we didn't do it tonight."
 
The Tigers (14-11, 9-5 OVC) outscored the Gamecocks 22-18 in the paint and had three score in double digits. Ken'Darrius Hamilton and Delano Spencer each tallied 15 points, while Kamar McKnight pitched in 11. TSU shot an even 50% and was 6-for-17 from 3-point range.
 
Jacksonville State jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead on a Drumwright 3-pointer to begin the game, and held an advantage for 2:25, but the lead diminished at the 15:38 mark when TSU's Hamilton hit the first of his four 3-pointer to tie the game at 5-5. From that point on, Jacksonville State would only come within one point of seeing it tied a second time.
 
The loss dropped the Gamecocks to a 9-5 league record, putting them in a tie with the Tigers for fourth place in the OVC.
 
The Gamecocks are on the road for their next two OVC matchups, taking on Murray State on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. in Murray, Ky., followed by a 7 p.m. contest against Austin Peay on Satuday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. in Clarksville, Tenn. Both games are set to stream on the OVC Digital Network.
 
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).