Jones College, Daytona State to face off in NJCAA Tournament opener Saturday

Hutchinson, Kansas — Jones College and Daytona State will meet for the first time in program history Saturday in the opening game of the NJCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament. The contest is scheduled for noon CST and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Jones, the Region 23 champions for three straight seasons, enters the tournament with a 24-9 record. The Bobcats aim to end a drought of tournament wins that dates back to 2017, with their last victory at the NJCAA Tournament.

The team has faced four opponents from the tournament field in the regular season, including Gulf Coast State, Chipola College, Bishop State and Northwest Florida State. Jones is known for its high-scoring, balanced attack, averaging over 88 points per game. Key players include guard Jay Tyler, who averages 17.9 points, Dylan Rowe with 17.0 points, and Braylon Barnes with 16.9 points, forming one of the most dynamic guard groups in the field.

Keron Jackson provides instant offense off the bench, averaging 12.5 points, while Bob Dickson leads inside with 11.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Despite limited veteran experience—Jones features only one active sophomore—the team is confident heading into its first tournament appearance since 2017.

Standing in their way is Daytona State, which comes into the game with a 26-7 record and recent tournament success. The Falcons advanced to the NJCAA quarterfinals last year and earned an at-large bid for a third consecutive season.

Leading Daytona State is Noah Mendy, who averages 18.1 points per game and has knocked down 60 three-pointers. The team also relies on Tyrese Lacey, who averages 7.1 assists per game and orchestrates an offense that produces nearly 90 points per game. Other key contributors include Alex Harper, Adrian Shackleton, Trey Wilson, Ryan Bewley, and Seydina N’Diaye, the latter averaging 2.4 blocks per game and providing rim protection.

Defensively, Daytona State stands out, holding opponents to 69.6 points per game and shooting under 38 percent from the field. The Falcons force over 15 turnovers per game while committing 13, often turning defense into offense.

The matchup presents a contrasting style: Jones’ fast-paced, high-scoring approach against Daytona State’s disciplined, defense-oriented game plan. The outcome could hinge on turnovers and tempo, as the Bobcats look to break through against one of the tournament’s most efficient defenses.

The winner will face top overall seed Howard on Monday at noon.

Source: Original Article