JACKSON, Miss. | Jackson State opens the 2024-25 campaign with a home exhibition contest against crosstown foe Belhaven on Thursday night at the Lee E. Williams AAC.
 
The game tips off at 6 p.m. and admission is free for the contest.
 
Jackson State (15-17, 11-7 SWAC last season) looks to return its top six scorers from a season ago and will turn to three Tigers who were either injured or sat out last season. Jayme Mitchell Jr. played in just nine games last season before a season-ending injury averaging 6.6 points per game, while Romelle Mansel returns after just two games last season. Meanwhile, Daeshun Ruffin will suit up for the first time for Jackson State after transferring from Ole Miss where he averaged 9.5 points per game.
 
The Tigers will also look to Keiveon Hunt who played in 27 games last season (with six starts) and averaged 5.4 points while dishing out 39 assists and recording 39 steals.
 

Game Info – Jackson State vs. Belhaven Thursday, Oct. 24 | 6 p.m. | Lee E. Williams AAC Live Stats

Head coach Mo Williams dipped into the transfer portal to land Shannon Grant from Florida A&M where he averaged 10.4 points per game and was named Preseason All-SWAC ahead of this season. The Tigers also landed Dylan Canoville (Southeastern Louisiana) and Juan Reyna III (UTSA) from the portal to go with three of the top high school players in the state of Mississippi from a season ago in Tamarion Hoover, Dorian McMillian, and Ebo Wilson.
 
Those players will mix in with three newcomers from the junior college ranks and three returning players from a season ago.
 
Jackson State will hit the road following the contest on Thursday night to face Southern Miss in Hattiesburg on Monday, Oct. 28 before opening the regular season at No. 4 Houston on Monday, Nov. 4.

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