TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | Daeshun Ruffin and Jayme Mitchell Jr. combined for 50 points, leading Jackson State to a 66-65 thriller over Florida A&M in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) action at the Lawson Center on Monday night.
Ruffin finished with 30 points and six assists, while Mitchell finished with 20 points and nine rebounds. Ruffin has scored in double figures 17 times this season including four games with 30-plus points, and has scored in double figures in 11 consecutive games and 13 of the last 14 for the Tigers. He has also recorded five or more assists in 11 times this season. Meanwhile, Mitchell has scored in double figures 14 times including five times in conference play.
Jackson State trailed by as many as 10 before back-to-back three-pointers from Tamarion Hoover and Mitchell trimmed the lead to 49-48 with 11:45 to play in the contest. Mitchell gave the Tigers a 50-49 lead with 11:23 to play out of a timeout before a Ruffin lay-up with 10:29 to play extended the lead to 52-49. The lead stayed that way until Kaleb Washington converted a three-point play with 8:29 to play to tie the game at 54-all. The Rattlers grabbed the lead back with just under eight minutes to play at 57-54 with three consecutive free throws before Dionjahe Thomas closed the gap with dunk.
The two teams traded baskets until Florida A&M was able to get a steal and layup to extend the lead to five at 61-56 before the Tigers were able to cut the lead to two at 65-63 with just under two minutes to play. Mitchell gave Jackson State the lead back with 1:11 to play with three from the right corner, taking a 66-65 lead. The Tigers were able to hold on in the final six seconds for the win.
Jackson State shot 42.3 (22-of-52) percent from the floor in the second half, and 36.8 (7-of-19) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 71.4 (15-of-21) percent from the free throw line while Florida A&M 40.7 (24-of-59) percent from the floor in the second half, and 28.6 (8-of-28) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 52.9 (9-of-17) percent from the free throw line.
Washington led Florida A&M with 17 points.
Inside the Numbers
Jackson State finished first half shooting 46.2 (12-of-26) percent from the floor including 33.3 (3-of-9) from beyond the arc. They also shot 62.5 (5-of-8) percent from the free throw line, led by Ruffin with 18 points on 46.7 (7-of-15) percent from the floor. Meanwhile, Florida A&M finished half shooting 51.7 (15-of-29) percent from the floor and 53.3 (8-of-15) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 75.0 (3-of-4) percent from the free throw line.
The two teams were close in the rebounding battle in the first 20 minutes with Florida A&M holding a slim 16-14 advantage. The game was at five (33-28) with 3:43 to play in the first half before the Rattlers scored eight of the final 12 points of the half to take a 41-32 lead into the locker room.
The Tigers shot 42.3 (22-of-52) percent from the floor in the second half, and 40.0 (4-of-10) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 76.9 (10-of-13) percent from the free throw line while Florida A&M 30.0 (9-of-30) percent from the floor in the second half, missing all 13 of its three-pointers. They also shot 76.9 (10-of-13) percent from the free throw line.
Up Next
Jackson State returns home on Saturday to face Grambling State at 3 p.m. as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer nationwide campaign.
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