LAFAYETTE, La - The Jackson State men's basketball team (1-5) came out clicking on all cylinders as they defeated the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns (3-3), 75-70, Saturday afternoon at the Cajundome.
The score was tied six times in a hard fought battle, but it was JSU who made the winning plays down the stretch and checked off all the boxes needed in order to secure their first win of the season.
Three Tigers scored in double-figures and they won the turnover margin at plus-three.
Transfer guard
Gabe Watson led the way for the third straight game with a game-high 22 points, going 10-11 at the free throw line.
Jayveous McKinnis was terrific for the Tigers recording his fourth double-double on the season with 16 points and 12 rebounds, he also added 3 blocks notching his 27th career double-double.
Jonas James III chipped in with 11 points.
"I thought our kids all 13 of them played their roles and really fought to get the win," head coach
Wayne Brent said. "It was a total team effort from the coaches and players today."
JSU jumped out to an early 17-10 advantage in the first half and kept their foot on the gas taking an 11-point lead into intermission, 44-33, thanks to Watson sinking three free-throws as time expired.
This trend continued into the second half as the Tigers never trailed and were extremely efficient on the offensive end with a lead as much as 16.
The Ragin Cajuns weathered the storm and mounted a comeback midway through the second half going on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit, 65 -57, and they also went on another 8-0 run late in the second half cutting the Tigers lead to just two, 72-70.
Darius Hicks hit two big free throws with 24 seconds remaining in the contest to make it a two possession game, 74-70. After a key defensive stop for the Tigers, Watson was fouled the very next possession and put a stamp on the game knocking down 1-2 from the line as the Tigers walked away with the victory, 75-70.
NOTABLES
- Jackson State State was 27-54 (50 percent) shooting from the field and 18-26 (69 percent) from the charity stripe
- Louisiana-Lafayette shot 44 percent (26-59) from the field and 63 percent (12-19) from the free-throw line
- The Tigers registered 33 rebounds, including 24 on the defensive glass and 9 on the offensive glass
- The Ragin Cajuns pulled down 35 rebounds, with 23 coming on the defensive end and 12 on the offensive end
- JSU finished with 36 points in the paint, 17 bench points, 15 fast-break points and nine second-chance points
- Louisiana-Lafayette registered 41 bench points, 40 points in the paint, nine fast-break points and 13 second-chance points
UP NEXT
Next up for Jackson State is a trip to take on Marquette on Tuesday, November 1. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. CST and the game will be streamed live on the CBS Network.
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets are now on sale to the public for the 2021-22 men's and women's basketball season. Tickets can be purchased at the JSU Ticket Office at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, online at TicketMaster, and at
601-354-6021.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all of the latest Jackson State Men's Basketball news, fans can follow the Twitter account (GoJSUTigersMBB), Instagram account (@gojsutigersmbb) and Facebook account (Jackson State Men's Basketball).
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