Jackson State to Face Alcorn State in SWAC Rivalry Showdown
Jackson State will face in-state rival Alcorn State on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Davey L. Whitney Complex. The game will be broadcast on SWAC TV.
The Tigers enter the matchup with a 9-17 overall record and an 8-5 mark in conference play. They have won two straight games and sit just two games behind league leader Bethune-Cookman. Jackson State is also tied for third place in the SWAC with Southern, trailing Alabama A&M by half a game, according to the school.
The teams previously met in the conference opener on Jan. 3, with Jackson State winning 89-85. Jackson State leads the overall series 57-48, including the last three meetings.
Senior guard Daeshun Ruffin leads the Tigers in scoring and assists, averaging 23.6 points and 5.7 assists per game. In conference play, Ruffin’s averages increase to 29.6 points and 7.8 assists. He recorded three consecutive double-doubles earlier this season. Fellow starters Jayme Mitchell Jr. and Dorian McMillian are also key contributors, with Mitchell averaging 14.2 points and 5.0 rebounds, and McMillian adding 12.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
Jackson State head coach Mo Williams missed Saturday’s game due to illness, with associate head coach Trey Johnson filling in. Williams has only missed two games since arriving at the school. Jalen Tatum, making his first appearance since the season opener, scored 15 points off the bench in the win over Florida A&M.
The Tigers have faced multiple nationally ranked opponents this season, including Illinois, Louisville, Auburn, and Arkansas. They also played the second-toughest schedule in the country, according to multiple sources.
In their first meeting this season, Ruffin scored 31 points to lead Jackson State past Alcorn State, 89-85. He was joined by McMillian, Mitchell, and Devin Ree, each with 14 points. The team combined for 69 of the 91 points scored against Bethune-Cookman earlier this season.
Jackson State gained national recognition Monday when it hosted SportsCenter on Campus and became the first HBCU to host College GameDay and SportsCenter on Campus, boosting visibility for the program.
Follow Jackson State athletics for updates via @GoJSUTigers on social media or visit GoJSUTigers.com for more information.
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