EL PASO, Texas | Jackson State dropped the consolation game of the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational 68-50 to Akron on Saturday night to wrap up the tournament.

Keiveon Hunt, the lone player in double figures for the Tigers,  led Jackson State with 11 points and dished out four assists. Romelle Mansel added nine points and six rebounds, while Jayme Mitchell Jr. added seven points and seven rebounds. Meanwhile, Shammah Scott paced four players for Akron in double figures with 12. Sharron Young and Isaiah Gray chipped in with 11 and James Okonkwo added 10.

The first half featured runs by both teams to pull away from the other until Jackson State closed the first half with back-to-back baskets to pull within one at 30-29 at the break. Akron opened the second half on a 15-1 run to push the lead to 45-31 with 14:02 remaining in the game before Akron was able to pull away.

Jackson State finished the night shooting 28.8 (17-of-59) percent from the floor and 28.6 (6-of-21) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 58.8 (10-of-17) percent from the free throw line and forced 21 turnovers. Meanwhile, Akron shot 34.8 (23-of-66) percent from the floor and 23.1 (9-of-39) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 68.4 (13-of-19) percent from the free throw line and grabbed 58 rebounds. 

Inside the Numbers
Jackson State finished the first half shooting 37.9 (11-of-29) percent from the floor and 33.3 (4-of-12) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 37.5 (3-of-8) percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Akron shot 23.7 (9-of-38) percent from the floor and 13.0 (3-of-23) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 64.3 (9-of-14) percent from the free throw line.

Akron grabbed 33 rebounds (15 offensive) to just 22 for Jackson State (four offensive) in the opening half.

The Tigers shot 20.0 (6-of-30) percent from the floor and 22.2 (2-of-9) percent from beyond the arc, and also shot 77.8 (7-of-9) percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Akron shot 50.0 (14-of-28) percent from the floor and 37.5 (6-of-16) percent from beyond the arc while also shooting 80.0 (4-of-5) percent from the free throw line.

Game Notes

• The Tigers were playing without Daeshun Ruffin and Marcus Watson Jr. to start the game before Dorian McMillian left the game early, playing just four minutes against the Zips.
• The game is the 12th away from home to start the season for Jackson State and the first neutral site game of the season after 11 straight true road games to open the year.
• Delyle Williams matched his career-high in the first half with his first basket of the game before scoring two more in the half to give him a career-high six points in the first half. He finished with eight on the night.

Up Next
Jackson State will be off until after Christmas when it hits the road for the final non-conference game on the schedule against Cal Baptist on Dec. 28.

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