Jonesboro, Ark. - The Jackson State men's basketball team is set to face the Red Wolves of Arkansas State University on Tuesday night at the First National Bank Arena. 

The Tigers (1-7) are coming into the game following a tough 81-88 loss on the road at Georgetown. Three JSU players scored in double figures against the Hoyas, with Ken Evans Jr. leading the way with his sixth double-digit scoring game. Zeke Cook added 17 points and ten rebounds off the bench, and Jordan O'Neal had 16 points. 

The Red Wolves (2-4) are coming off a 75-58 win over UTRGV. Dyondre Dominguez recorded his second double-double of the season as six players scored nine or more points in Arkansas State's bounce-back victory. The Red Wolves limited the Vaqueros to 18.5 percent from the field in the first half - the lowest clip allowed in a half since the 2013–14 season.

Jackson State-Arkansas State

• This will be the 14th meeting between the two schools, with the Red Wolves holding a 10-3 advantage in the series.
• Coach Mo has never coached or played against Arkansas State.
• Bryan Hodgson, the head coach of Arkansas State, will be coaching his first game against Jackson State.

Evans Standing Out 

• Ken Evans Jr. is leading the way for the Tigers, averaging 18.7 points per game while shooting over 50 percent from beyond the 3-point arc for the Tigers.  
• Evans has scored double digits in six of Jackson State's games this season, scoring a career-high 33 points against LMU on the road.  
• Evans has scored 131 points this season, and he is now just 192 points away from becoming yet another Jackson State great to score at least 1000 points in his career.  

Last Time Out | Jackson State 81, Georgetown 88

• The Jackson State men's basketball team got a 30-point showing from the bench against the Georgetown Hoyas on the road.
• Ken Evans had 20 points and four assists to lead the Tigers, with three players scoring in double figures. Zeke Cook tacked on a double-double from the bench with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Jordan O'Neal helped out with 16 points and eight rebounds.
• Jackson State did a great job taking care of the basketball, dishing out 17 assists while turning the ball over eight times. Evans' four assists led the distribution list for the Tigers. Treyon Johnson also added four assists of his own.
• After falling behind 30-24, Jackson State went on an 8-0 run with 6:02 left in the first half to take a 32-30 lead. The Tigers lost some of that lead but still entered halftime with a 40-39 advantage. Jackson State did most of its first-half damage in the paint, scoring 24 of its 40 points close to the basket.
• Georgetown took a 60-57 lead before Jackson State went on a 6-0 run, finished off by an Evans' three, to seize a 63-60 lead with 13:18 to go in the contest. Georgetown re-asserted control, outscoring the Tigers 28-18 the rest of the way to hand Jackson State the 88-81 loss. Jackson State got a boost from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for 13 of its 41 total points.

Look Who's Back! 

• The Tigers welcomed back all five of their starters from a year ago: Ken Evans, Coltie Young, Romelle Mansel, Chase Adams,  and Zeke Cook, and they accounted for 1,510 of Jackson State's 2,232 total points a year. 
• Evans led the team in scoring, averaging 11.3 ppg, 4.6 rebounds per game, and 86 assists.
• Young was the second-leading scorer, with 10.9 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per game. 
• Mansel finished the year with 8.9 points per game, 31 block shots, and an average of 5.4 rebounds. 
• Adams guided the team as the point guard and finished with 118 assists, 50 steals, and 8.0 points per game. 
• Cook averaged 5.9 rebounds per game with 16 blocks and 35 steals.  

2 Dogs 1 Bone

• The Jackson State men's basketball team lives on the 2 Dogs, 1 Bone philosophy. 
• In the words of Coach Mo, "When you have two dogs in a kennel with one bone, the toughest and hungriest dog is going to get that bone."
• The team that works the hardest and puts in the most work will win the battle between the two teams. 
• The Tigers have a championship mindset because they want to be the best team in the SWAC. 

2024 Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic

• Jackson State will face Grambling State on February 3, 2024, live on TNT at the Prudential Center at 1 p.m.
• Michael B. Jordan's commitment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and being a force for positive change in his hometown of Newark, N.J., came to life with the Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic.
• This multi-faceted experience includes a basketball double-header, startup pitch competition, college fair, sports & entertainment summit, basketball court refurbishment, and a range of cultural elements highlighting additional aspects of HBCU life and culture, with a portion of event proceeds benefiting HBCUs.?
• The Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic is a one-day doubleheader featuring four of the top HBCU teams in the country, with day-of programming highlighting HBCU lifestyle and culture via HBCU influencers, Battle of the Bands competition and Step Shows throughout.
• Michael B. Jordan is using his celebrity platform to uplift the African-American community and has his sights on HBCU Basketball. In partnership with WME Sports, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), and Horizon Sports & Experiences (HS&E), the actor/producer announced the second installment of his HBCU college basketball showcase,? THE INVESCO QQQ LEGACY CLASSIC.? ?
• As a sponsor, you will join us in setting a new standard for delivering a one-of-a-kind experience in an area that is usually considered an afterthought in the mainstream.? Together, we can inspire the next generation to DREAM beyond what they see.

Road Warriors 

• The Jackson State Tigers will clock a few miles on the road before the SWAC season begins. They will travel 14,126 miles before they play their first conference game. 
• The travel is designed so the Tigers can grow together as a team on the road and learn how to play when traveling in the SWAC.
• The trips will test the mental toughness of the Tigers.
• JSU will play three games in five days in two different time zones to start the season.  
• Following those three games, they will play three more games over the next six days, all on the road. 
• The Tigers play their first 13 games on the road, and they play in each time zone except Mountain Standard Time. 

Big from the Bench

• Coach Mo is looking for a big thing from the bench this year. He added some key players who he is expecting to give key minutes and play well when their time is called. 
• Some of those players include Treyon Johnson, Keiveon Hunt,  and Jalani Bell. 
• The Tigers have scored 145 points off the bench to average 20.7 points per game from bench players.

Tough Slate 

• Jackson State opens the 2023-24 season by playing three games in five days, starting at Memphis, San Diego, and Cal Baptist. 
• The Tigers will face ten teams that made the NCAA tournament a year ago, including a team in Houston that made it to the Sweet 16 last year and Gonzaga, who made it to the Elite Eight. 
• They will travel on the road as they face all 10 of those teams, except Texas Southern, whom they will also play at home.
• Jackson State will also face two teams currently ranked in the top 25 in #6/6 Houston and #11/12 Gonzaga.  

Tigers to play in HBCU Challenge 

• The Chris Paul Family Foundation and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the third annual circuit of two Historically Black College and University (HBCU) events, the HBCU Tip-Off and Challenge, presented by the AEA Foundation.
• The  HBCU Tip-Off will take place November 18-19 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, and the HBCU Challenge will be held December 16-17 at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
• Jackson State will face Howard and North Carolina A&T in Las Vegas, with both games being broadcast on ESPNU. 

Tiger Tails

• Coach Mo is in his third year as head coach and second at Jackson State, his hometown. Born in Jackson, Miss.
• Williams attended Murrah High School, where he had a successful career, earning him a scholarship to Alabama. 
• In his first year at Jackson State, he went 12-6 in SWAC play despite being picked to finish seventh. 
• Coach Williams has never faced Arkansas State as a player or head coach. 

Season Tickets
Season tickets are now on sale to the public for the 2023–24 men's and women's basketball seasons. Tickets can be purchased online at www.gojsutigers.com/tickets, by phone at 601-979-0845, or in person at the Williams Athletics and Assembly Center Box Office on the JSU campus Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Follow Jackson State Athletics
For complete coverage of Jackson State athletics, follow the Tigers on social media at @GoJSUTigers (Instagram and Twitter) and Jackson State Tigers (Facebook), or visit the official home of Jackson State athletics at GoJSUTigers.com.