BUFFALO, N.Y. – Despite a tremendous performance from senior Malcolm Drumwright Wednesday night, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks dropped their first game of the season with an 81-76 loss to Buffalo at the Bulls’ Alumni Arena.
Drumwright was 7-for-13 from the floor and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the line. The point guard sunk three three-pointers during 37 minutes of play, but it wasn’t enough to pulled the Gamecocks from a second-half deficit that reached 12 points.
JSU put the game’s first two points on the board, but Buffalo stormed back with a 12-point run to put the Gamecocks down 12-2 after nearly five minutes of play. The Bulls held the lead until the6:10 mark of the first half. Drumwright hit a jumper to put JSU ahead 24-23, and a tip-in by junior Marlon Hunter pushed the lead to three, 26-23.
Buffalo tied the contest and reclaimed the lead on its next two trips down the court and took a 33-32 lead into the half. Despite trailing by just one, the Gamecocks again saw their deficit grow by double digits after five minutes. The Bulls extended their lead to a game-high 12 points halfway through the second period, proving to be too deep of a hole for Jacksonville State to dig itself out.
Hunter, Jamall Gregory and Norbertas Giga each pitched in 11 points, but foul trouble for Giga, Burnell and Christian Cunningham cost the Gamecocks down the stretch. Each of the three towers finished the night with four fouls.
The Gamecocks return home Nov. 30 to take on Alabama State at 7 p.m. at Pete Mathews Coliseum. Until then, JSU has three road games ahead of it. The Gamecocks are in Chattanooga, Tenn., Nov. 20-21 for matchups with Savannah State and the winner of the Chattanooga/Alabama State game. Sunday, Nov. 26, Jacksonville State takes on Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., at 2 p.m.
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.