LAFAYETTE, La. | Jackson State withstood a second half run from Louisiana, sealing its first victory of the season with a Daeshun Ruffin driving layup that danced around the rim with 36 seconds left, giving the Tigers a 51-45 victory at the Cajundome on Friday night.

Jackson State (1-6) used free throws from Ruffin and Mike Williams to seal the win after taking the lead on the layup, hitting three of four from the line. Ruffin finished the night with 18 points, hitting on 8-of-17 from the floor. Meanwhile, Jayme Mitchell Jr. finished with 13 points and Dorian McMillian 11 points in the win.

Jackson State finished the night shooting 38.2 (21-of-55) percent from the floor and 23.8 (5-of-21) percent from beyond the arc, while also shooting 80.0 (4-of-5) percent from the free throw line. Louisiana shot 31.4 (16-of-51) percent from the floor and 18.5 (5-of-27) percent from beyond the arc, while also shooting 50.0 (8-of-16) percent from the free throw line

How It Happened
The Tigers jumped out to an early 7-0 lead through the first media timeout of the game with a pair of baskets by McMillian, while holding Louisiana scoreless for the first 4:49 of the game, and held the lead until a Louisiana free throw with 11:02 remaining in the opening half tied the game at 7-all. They grabbed the lead right back with 9:37 to play on a Mitchell fastbreak layup. Following a layup from Louisiana, Ruffin connected on a three-pointer with 8:32 to play to extend the lead to 12-9 before a Devin Ree three-pointer with 7:49 to play in the half extended the lead to 15-9.

Jackson State used a 12-0 run midway through the first half to build a 16-point lead before a pair of Louisiana baskets with under a minute to play trimmed the lead to 29-18. The Tigers held the lead for 17:31 of the first half and never relinquished the lead although the game was tied two times. 

Louisiana opened the second half an 11-4 run to trim the Jackson State lead to just 33-28 just under 16 minutes to play in the game, the run continued over the next five-plus minutes as the Ragin' Cajuns trimmed the Jackson State lead to 35-33 with 10:49 to play in the game before they took their first lead of the game with 10:14 to play (36-35) on a Dariyus Woodson three-pointer. Jackson State went 5:37 without a point until McMillian stole a pass and converted a lay-up with 8:33 to play to help Jackson State get back on top at 37-36. The two teams traded baskets until the Tigers hit back-to-back baskets with under four minutes to play to take a 46-42 lead.

Inside the Numbers
Jackson State shot 38.7 (12-of-31) percent from the floor and 31.3 (5-of-16) percent from beyond the arc, while not attempting a free throw in the first half. Louisiana finished the first half shooting 23.1 (6-of-26) percent from the floor and 18.8 (3-of-16) percent from beyond the arc, while also shooting 50.0 (3-of-6) percent from the free throw line 

The Tigers also assisted on eight of 12 baskets in the opening half and outrebounded Louisiana 21-18.

Meanwhile, the Tigers shot 37.5 (9-of-24) percent from the floor and 80.0 (4-of-5) percent from the free throw line. Louisiana shot 40.0 (10-of-25) percent from the floor and 18.2 (2-of-11) percent from beyond the arc, while also shooting 50.0 (5-of-10) percent from the free throw line

Up Next
Jackson State returns to action on the road next week on Tuesday night on ESPN+ against Kennesaw State.

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