Jackson, Miss. — Jackson State beat Florida A&M 80-60 Saturday night at the Lee E. Williams Athletics & Assembly Center, sweeping the SWAC regular season series. The Tigers played without head coach Mo Williams, who was out due to illness.
Daeshun Ruffin scored 25 points in his first game back after missing two contests. He added nine rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Jalen Tatum chipped in 15 points in his first game since Nov. 6, shooting 5-of-8 from the floor.
Jayme Mitchell Jr. contributed 14 points, while Dorian McMillian added 13. Dionjahe Thomas finished with 11 points and nine rebounds. Jackson State led by as many as 27 points in the second half, with 5:41 remaining.
The Tigers shot 48.4% from the field (30-of-62), including 31.3% beyond the arc (5-of-16), and made 78.9% of free throws (15-of-19). Florida A&M shot 32% from the floor (16-of-50), 18.2% from three-point range (2-of-11), and 88.9% from the free-throw line (24-of-27). Jackson State also outrebounded the Rattlers 41-28.
Micah Octave led Florida A&M with 16 points, while three other players finished in double figures. The first half saw Jackson State shoot 46.9% from the field and 28.6% beyond the arc. The Tigers finished the game shooting 50% in the second half, including hitting one three-pointer, and made 75% of free throws in the second half. Florida A&M struggled offensively in the second half, shooting 32% from the floor and 18.2% beyond the arc, but excelled at free throws, making 19 of 21 attempts.
Jackson State returns to action Monday against Bethune-Cookman at 6 p.m. on ESPNU at the AAC. Fans can follow the Tigers on social media at @GoJSUTigers on Instagram and Twitter or visit GoJSUTigers.com for updates.
