NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team suffered a heartbreaking 63-59 loss to Belmont at the Curb Event Center on Thursday.
 
The Gamecocks (14-8, 10-6 OVC) led the contest for more than 33 minutes and held the advantage with less than five minutes to play, but a 10-0 run by the Bruins (23-1, 17-0 OVC) dashed JSU's hopes of handing the first-place team its first conference loss.
 
"We had some key turnovers late, and you just can't do that," Head Coach Ray Harper said. "I thought out kids competed, played extremely hard and gave us every opportunity to win. We didn't make it to the free-throw line the entire second half, so that makes it tough to win, but we're getting better and I'd like to see this team again in two weeks. I'd love to have one more shot at them."
 
Belmont couldn't buy a 3-pointer in the first half, going 0-for-16 from beyond the arc. The Jax State defense held them to 27 percent shooting (10-for-36) from the floor and led for three-quarters of the half.
 
The Gamecocks took a 27-22 lead to the locker room, thanks to 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting from Darian Adams, and things looked good for Jacksonville State until the game reached the five-minute mark of the final period.
 
JSU watched it's four-point lead disappear in a matter of two minutes when Belmont's Grayson Murphy knocked down a 3-pointer and Caleb Hollander hit a layup on a fast break to five the home team its first lead of the half, 54-53. From there, the Bruins extended their lead to a game-high six points.
 
Adams nailed a 3-pointer with seven seconds to play, pulling the BU lead within two, but a pair of free throws from Luke Smith put the game out of reach.
 
The Gamecocks were led by 24 points from Adams, a new career-high for the senior, and eight rebounds. He was JSU's lone scorer in double figures with Jalen Finch coming close with nine points.
 
Holder and Nick Muszynski paced Belmont in scoring with 18 and 16, respectively. The Bruins extended their winning streak to 20 games and claimed the OVC's regular-season crown with the victory.
 
Jacksonville State looks to salvage a win on its trip to the Volunteer State on Saturday at Tennessee State. The Gamecocks and Tigers meet at 4 p.m. at TSU's Gentry Center. The team returns to Pete Mathews Coliseum next weekend to host Murray State and Austin Peay in the final homestand of the year.
 
For more information on the JSU men's basketball team, follow the Gamecocks on Twitter (@JSUGamecocksMBB) and Instagram (@JSUGamecocksMBB). For more on all Gamecocks sports teams, follow the official social media accounts of JSU Athletics on Twitter (@JSUGamecocks), Facebook (Facebook.com/JSUGamecocks) and Instagram (@JSUGamecocks).