Box Score (.pdf)

Spartanburg, S.C. – Malcolm Drumwright's 3-pointer as time expired gave the Jacksonville State Gamecocks a 67-66 non-conference victory over the USC Upstate men's basketball team on Sunday afternoon at the G.B. Hodge Center.

Jacksonville State improves to 7-6 overall while Upstate drops to 7-7 on the season.

Michael Buchanan recorded his sixth double-double of the season to lead the Spartans with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Buchanan was one of four players to finish in double-figures along with Malik Moore (15), Ramel Thompkins (12) and Mike Cunningham (10).

Drumwright had a team-leading 18 points for the Gamecocks, and Erik Durham and Christian Cunningham both compiled double-doubles. Durham tallied 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Cunningham added 12 points and 10 rebounds. Jacara Cross also posted 12 points.

GAME BREAKDOWN

• Jacksonville State opened the game on a 7-2 run and led by as much as 17-7 following a Drumwright free-throw at the 12:52 mark.
• Upstate would battle back, trimming the Gamecock advantage to 17-13 on a Philip Whittington free-throw with 11:02 remaining.
• A Cunningham steal, followed by a Jure Span layup, allowed the Spartans to retake the lead, 19-18, with 6:44 to go. Upstate led 26-21 following a Thompkins 3-pointer with just over three minutes remaining only to see Jacksonville State take the lead back, 30-28, courtesy of a Cunningham dunk.
• Moore sent the Spartans into halftime with a 31-30 lead thanks to a 3-pointer with 13 seconds remaining. 
• Neither team led by more than six points throughout the second half.
• Durham gave the Gamecocks a 33-31 lead on a 3-pointer just 13 seconds into the half.
• The lead changed hands 11 times over the next 6:36 until a layup by Cunningham and Moore's free-throw put Upstate ahead 50-46 with 12:02 left in the game.
• Jacksonville State answered back with a 10-0 run covering a span of 2:41 and held a 56-50 advantage with 8:08 to go following a layup from Norbertas Giga.
• The Gamecocks led for the next three minutes until Thompkins tied the game for the Spartans at 58-58 after connecting on a 3-pointer at the 5:41 mark. Drumwright responded with four straight points to give Jacksonville State a 62-58 lead.
• Moore sparked a 7-2 run for Upstate over the next 2:06 as it led 65-64 with 26 seconds remaining on his 3-point play. The sophomore added to the lead with three seconds left after his free-throw made the score 66-64.
• Drumwright's last-second 3-point attempt from just past the midcourt line banked off the backboard and into the basket to give the Gamecocks the 67-66 victory.

• The contest featured a total eight ties and 20 lead changes with a combined 20 of those coming in the second half.
• Buchanan finished the game shooting 7-of-12 from the field, and added three assists and one block.
• Cunningham tied for a game-high with seven assists while Moore recorded three of the team's five steals.
• Drumwright was 7-of-13 shooting and had seven assists along with Tyrik Edwards.
• The Spartans finished the game shooting 46.0 percent (23-of-50) and held a 6-4 advantage over Jacksonville State in fast break points.

• Upstate continues its three-game homestand on Tuesday, Dec. 20 when it hosts Florida College at 7 p.m.