ATLANTA, Ga. | Daeshun Ruffin led three players in double figures but it wasn't enough as Jackson State dropped an 84-77 contest to Hampton in the opening game of the Toyota Chris Paul HBCU Classic presented by AARP at the Gateway Center Arena on Thursday night.

Ruffin finished one off his career-high with 36 points, shooting 72.2 (13-of-18) percent from the floor including a pair of three-pointers. He also hit 88.9 (8-of-9) percent from the free throw line, dishing out six assists and recording a pair of steals. He was joined in double figures by Jayme Mitchell Jr. with 16 points and five rebounds, while Dorian McMillian added 11 points and five rebounds.

The Tigers came back from 13 down with 13:18 (56-43) to play in the game, and trailed by 11 with 4:19 (77-66) to play in the game. However, Jackson State trimmed the lead to 77-75 with just 53 seconds remaining, using a 9-0 run highlighted by a three-pointer by Devin Ree, a lay-up from Mitchell, and four points from Ruffin. However, Michael Eley scored the final seven points for Hampton including five free throws down the stretch for the Pirates. 

Jackson State finished the night shooting 48.3 (28-of-58) percent from the floor and 30.8 (8-of-26) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 81.3 (13-of-16) percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Hampton finished the night shooting 46.2 (24-of-52) percent from the floor and 47.6 (10-of-21) percent from beyond the arc, while also shooting 83.9 (26-of-31) percent from the free throw line.

Eley led four Hampton players with 31 points.

Inside the Numbers
Jackson State finished the first half shooting 53.8 (14-of-26) percent from the floor and 28.6 (4-of-14) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 60.0 (3-of-5) percent from the free throw line, while assisting on six of 14 baskets. Meanwhile, Hampton finished the first half shooting 44.4 (12-of-27) percent from the floor and 53.8 (7-of-13) percent from beyond the arc, while shooting 71.4 (5-of-7) percent from the free throw line. 

Hampton won the rebounding battle in the first half, 20-9, but had no answer for Ruffin who scored 20 points in the opening half hitting 80.0 (8-of-10) percent from the floor including a pair of three pointers.

The Tigers shot 48.3 (14-of-32) percent from the floor and 33.3 (4-of-12) percent from beyond the arc, while also shooting 90.9 (10-of-11) percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Hampton finished the second half shooting 48.0 (12-of-25) percent from the floor and 37.5 (3-of-8) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 87.5 (21-of-24) percent from the free throw line.

Up Next
Jackson State returns to action against Norfolk State on Friday night, the first time the Tigers will play on back-to-back days this season.

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