JACKSON, Miss. | Daeshun Ruffin hit a career milestone with the go-ahead lay-up and subsequent free throw, leading Jackson State to an 82-78 victory over Prairie View A&M in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center on Saturday night.
Jackson State (4-13, 3-1 SWAC) led for most of the game until Prairie View A&M climbed back into the contest before taking its first lead at 67-65 with 6:58 remaining in the contest, and building it to as many as four with 5:59 to play (74-70). However, the Tigers trailed 78-75 with 1:39 to play when Ruffin drove right and was fouled while hitting the lay-up; reaching his milestone of 1,000 career points. He would hit the subsequent free throw to tie the game at 78-78 before giving Jackson State the lead for good at 80-78 with a lay-up with 1:11 to play. The Tigers put the game away with a dunk by Raevon Thomas with just 13 seconds to play for the final margin.
Ruffin finished with his second consecutive double-double, finishing with 23 points and matching his career-high with 10 assists. The senior finished the night shooting 53.3 (8-of-15) percent shooting from the floor including a pair of three-pointers, while also shooting 83.3 (5-of-6) percent from the free throw line. He was joined in double figures by Dorian McMillian with 16 points on 62.5 (5-of-8) percent shooting from the floor with three three-pointers, while also connecting on all three free throws.
Dionjahe Thomas finished with his first double-double of the season, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds, connecting on 75.0 (6-of-8) percent from the floor. Jayme Mitchell Jr. finished with nine points and eight rebounds, while Raevon Thomas finished with eight points and nine rebounds.
Jackson State finished the night shooting 45.3 (29-of-64) percent from the floor and 35.7 (10-of-28) percent from beyond the arc, while shooting 70.0 (14-of-20) percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Prairie View A&M finished the night shooting 37.9 (22-of-58) percent from the floor and 30.4 (7-of-23) percent from beyond the arc. while also shooting 77.1 (27-of-35) percent from the free throw line.Â
Dontae Horn led Prairie View A&M with 38 points, while Cory Wells finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out. Meanwhile, SWAC leading scorer Tai'Reon Joseph was held scoreless in 20 minutes of action.
Inside the Numbers
Jackson State shot 46.9 (15-of-32) percent from the floor and 50.0 (8-of-16) percent from beyond the arc in the first half, while also shooting 50.0 (4-of-8) percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Prairie View A&M finished the first half shooting 41.7 (10-of-24) percent from the floor and 45.5 (5-of-11) percent from beyond the arc in the first half. They also shot 73.3 (11-of-15) percent from the free throw line.
The Tigers finished the second half shooting 43.8 (14-of-32) percent from the floor and 16.7 (2-of-12) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 83.3 (10-of-12) percent from the free throw line, while holding Prairie View A&M to 35.3 (12-of-34) percent shooting from the floor and 16.7 (2-of-12) percent from beyond the arc. They also finished the second half shooting 80.0 (16-of-20) percent from the free throw line.
Jackson State assisted in 17 of its 29 baskets, and won the rebounding battle 45-34 over the Panthers. The Tigers also outscored Prairie View AYM 34-20 in the paint, and 13-7 off the bench.
Up Next
Jackson State returns to action on Monday night inside the Lee E. Williams AAC at 7 p.m. against Texas Southern.
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