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Gamecocks Fall to Mississippi State on Last-Second Shot

Gamecocks Fall to Mississippi State on Last-Second Shot
Gamecocks Fall to Mississippi State on Last-Second Shot

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Jacksonville State men’s basketball team was not able to survive a late Mississippi State rally Sunday afternoon, falling 59-56 to the SEC foe on a last-second three-pointer at Humphrey Coliseum.

Senior Norbertas Giga picked up his first double-double of the season, totaling 15 points and 10 rebounds despite the loss. The seven-footer was six-for-11 from the floor and threw in three assists.

Jacksonville State held the lead for nearly 25 minutes, beginning about halfway through the first half when the Gamecocks began a nine-point run. With 12:47 remaining in the opening period, Jason Burnell hit a layup to pull the Bulldogs within two, 8-6, and a couple a Tyrik Edwards free throws tied the game shortly after.

The momentum swung 100% in the Gamecocks’ favor just 30 seconds later. Burnell rejected Holman at the basket dunked it on the other end of the court to put JSU up by two. Marlon Hunter followed up with a three-pointer from the corner to put the Gamecocks up 13-8 and force a Mississippi State timeout.

The Gamecocks took a 29-25 lead into the break and jumped out to an eight-point advantage to begin the second half via a four three-point buckets, but the Bulldogs would not go away. Mississippi State reclaimed the lead, 50-49, at the 6:35 mark on a Quinndary Weatherspoon layup.

The two teams exchanged baskets the remainder of the game and saw the score tied until the final seconds of the contest. With 0.4 seconds left on the clock, Weatherspoon stepped back and sunk the game-winning three-pointer. Jacksonville State had the opportunity to inbound, but only to have it touched up fall to the floor to kill the clock.

The Gamecocks return home Thursday, Nov. 30 to take on Alabama State at 7 p.m. The in-state contest begins a three-game home stand at Pete Mathews Coliseum, followed by a Dec. 3 matchup vs. Samford and a Dec. 8 game against ULM.

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.