JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Benzor Simmons scored 16 points and Terence Smith scored eight of his 13 points in the final 4:53 as Tennessee-Martin held off Jacksonville State 63-60 on Saturday.
The Skyhawks (5-14, 1-7 Ohio Valley Conference) led 47-42 after two free throws by Simmons with 8:47 remaining, but the Gamecocks (2-16, 0-7) got layups from Dominique Shellman and B.J. Miller and a jumper by Sean Thurston for a 48-47 lead at the 5:57 mark.
The lead changed hands four more times in the next 1:26 before a 3-pointer by Smith started a 7-0 run that put Tennessee-Martin ahead to stay, 58-52, with 3:11 to go.
The Gamecocks, who have lost 12 straight, cut the lead to 61-60 with 43 seconds to go after two free throws by Nick Murphy, who had 15 points. But Andres Irarrazabal grabbed an offensive rebound for Tennessee-Martin and Reuben Clayton made two free throws to clinch the win.
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