JACKSONVILLE – A Jax State shot at the buzzer rattled out as the Gamecock men's basketball team lost to Eastern Kentucky 62-59 on Wednesday night.

With the loss, Jax State falls to 4-6 while EKU improves to 4-8 with the win.

Jax State rallied from down as many as 12 in the second half to bring the score within one point in the final seconds of the game, but were unable to complete the comeback.

Jax State trailed at the half 38-29 after a late surge from EKU to pull away In the final few minutes.

EKU kept the lead around 10 for the first 10 minutes of the second half before the Gamecock defense began to hinder the Colonel scoring attack.

Jax State held EKU to just 24 points in the second half. The Gamecocks allowed just eight EKU points in the final seven minutes of the game, but it was not enough to come away in the win column.

Jacoby Hill knocked down a pair of free throws to cut the lead to one with just five seconds left with ensuing free throws pushing the lead back to three.

Jax State had a look at the buzzer but the shot did not fall.

Mostapha El Moutaouakkul led the Gamecocks with 16 while Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. added a season-high 13 points.

Iaroslav Niagu led the Gamecocks with four assists while El Moutaouakkil led with seven rebounds.

Eastern Kentucky's Turner Buttry led all scorers with 19 points, knocking down five three-pointers.

Jax State returns to the hardwood on Saturday, Dec. 20 at ETSU before returning to The Pete on Dec. 29 for the Conference USA opener against Western Kentucky.