JACKSON, Miss. | Jackson State fell to Grambling State 69-66 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) action inside the Lee E. Williams Athletics & Assembly Center when a three-pointer by Jayme Mitchell Jr. rolled off the rim as the buzzer sounded on Saturday night.

Jackson State (6-15, 5-3 SWAC) trailed by as  many as 13 in the second half with 10:35 to play before they stormed back and took a 62-61 lead with 4:32 to play on a Dionjahe Thomas free throw. After Grambling State took a two-point lead, Delyle Williams tied the game with 2:51 remaining. Grambling State used a three-pointer from Rickey Ballard with 15 seconds remaining (67-64) before Deshaun Ruffin knocked down a pair of free throws with just under 12 seconds remaining to trim the lead to 67-66. Grambling State used a pair of free throws to extend the lead to three before Mo Williams called a timeout to set up the final play for Mitchell.

Ruffin led all scorers with 38 points and five assists, connecting on 50.0 (10-of-20) percent from the floor and 66.7 (4-of-6) percent from beyond the arc. The senior guard also shot 82.5 (14-of-17) percent from the free throw line, scoring in double figures for 12th consecutive game (14 of the last 15). He has scored 30-plus points five times, and scored in double figures 18 times this season. He has also recorded five or more assists 12 times this season. He was joined double figures by Raevon Thomas with 12 points, while Mitchell led the team with eight rebounds and Devin Ree added seven rebounds and four blocked shots. 

Jackson State shot 38.0 (19-of-50) percent from the floor and 28.6 (6-of-21) percent from beyond the arc, while also shooting 73.3 (22-of-30) percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Grambling State39.3 (24-of-61) percent from the floor and 35.5 (11-of-31) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 71.4 (10-of-14) percent from the free throw line.

Antonio Munoz and Ballard each added 15 points to lead Grambling State (9-10, 3-3 SWAC).

Inside the Numbers
Jackson State finished the first 20 minutes shooting 42.3 (11-of-26) percent from the floor and 22.2 (2-of-9) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 61.5 (8-of-13) percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Grambling State finished the first half shooting 41.4 (12-of-29) percent from the floor and 40.0 (6-of-15) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 77.8 (7-of-9) percent from the free throw line.

The Tigers shot 33.3 (8-of-24) percent from the floor the floor in the second half, and 33.3 (4-of-12) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 82.4 (14-of-17) percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Grambling State finished the second half shooting 37.5 (12-of-32) percent from the floor and 31.3 (5-of-16) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 60.0 (3-of-5) percent from the free throw  line.

Grambling State won the rebounding battle, 41-34, while Jackson State dished out seven assists on 19 made baskets.

Up Next
Jackson State returns to action on Monday night at 7 p.m. against Southern on SWAC TV inside the Lee E. Williams AAC.

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