Jackson State to Close Homestand Against Texas Southern on Monday Night

Jackson, Miss. — Jackson State will host Texas Southern on Monday night at 7 p.m. in Lee E. Williams Athletic Assembly Center, closing out its current homestand. The game will be streamed on SWACTV, with live audio and stats available, according to the university.

The Tigers, with a 4-13 overall record and a 3-1 mark in SWAC play, enter the game as the reigning SWAC Player of the Week. Guard Daeshun Ruffin, who leads Jackson State in scoring and assists, averaged 37.5 points across two games last week. Ruffin scored a career-high 39 points against Alabama A&M, adding 10 assists, and shot 44.8% from the field and 91.7% from the free-throw line in that game.

Jackson State and Texas Southern have a long history, meeting 106 times since 1977. Texas Southern leads the series 61-45, but Jackson State won the most recent matchup. The Tigers have also faced several nationally ranked opponents this season, including Illinois, Louisville, Auburn, and Arkansas, in what ESPN ranks as the second-toughest schedule in the country.

Other key contributors for Jackson State include Jayme Mitchell Jr., averaging 12.8 points and four rebounds per game, and Dorian McMillian, with 10.9 points and 4.6 rebounds. Tamarion Hoover, coming off the bench, averages 10 points in conference play. The team has started 13 different lineups in 17 games this season.

Head coach Mo Williams has two sons involved with the team—KyDarrius as an assistant coach and highly-touted recruit Mike. Ruffin’s recent performances have earned him SWAC Player of the Week honors, and he has scored in double figures in eight straight games.

Jackson State finished second in the SWAC last season with a 14-4 record and advanced to the conference championship game. The Tigers aim to improve their standing with a strong finish to their home schedule.

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