HATTIESBURG, Miss. | Jackson State returns to action on Wednesday night with its second consecutive contest against an in-state foe, facing Southern Miss at Reed Green Coliseum.

The game tips off at 7 pm on ESPN+.

Jackson State (1-2) is in the midst of a three-game week after facing Mississippi State on Monday and Winthrop on Saturday - both games on the road. The Tigers are led by Mike Williams through the first three games, averaging 18.0 points per game over a three-game span to open the season for Jackson State, returning from a season-ending injury a season ago (just eight games in). He shot 46.2 (18-of-39) from the floor and 57.1 (12-of-21) from beyond the arc in the three games. He also connected on 85.7 (6-of-7) from the free throw line, while dishing out five assists and grabbing eight rebounds. The sophomore has averaged 21.5 points per game in two games off the bench (Tulane and Mississippi State), scoring 20 in an 87-85 win over Tulane and a career-high 23 in a loss to Mississippi State.

He is joined in double figures by Dorian McMillian at 11.0 points per game.

Southern Miss (1-1) leads the all-time series 10-4 with the two teams not meeting in the regular season since 2017; however, they have met the previous two years in exhibition games with the Golden Eagles winning both. Jackson State has won the last three regular season meetings between the two.

Game Information - Jackson State at Southern Miss | ESPN+
Tuesday, Nov. 11 | 7 p.m. | Reed Green Coliseum
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Southern Miss Game Notes [.pdf]
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Opening Tip

• Mike Williams has averaged 21.5 points per game off the bench in two games this season, scoring 20 against Tulane [Nov. 5] before a career-high 23 points against Mississippi State [Nov. 9]. He has scored in double figures in all three games this season. He returned from a season-ending injury last season [just eight games into the season] to start and lead Jackson State in scoring against No. 19 Texas Tech with 11 points. The son of former Jackson State coach Mo Williams, the sophomore guard scored three fewer points than his brother [Mason] did in an exhibition game against the Red Raiders for Kentucky.
• The Tigers have started three different line-ups in three games this season with only a pair of players starting all three games - Dorian McMillian and Daeshun Ruffin.
• Jackson State had five players in double figures in their win over Tulane last week - Dorian McMillian, Mike Williams, Daeshun Ruffin, Nikk Williams, and AT Manyuon; with both McMillian and Mike Williams each scoring 20-plus.
• Jackson State and Southern Miss have not met in a regular season game in almost a decade, but have met twice in the last two seasons in exhibition games with the Golden Eagles winning both. Last season, Southern Miss won 81-71with Ruffin and McMillian combining for 48 points in the loss. The two teams met in Hattiesburg two years ago with Southern Miss winning in overtime.
• Ruffin returns for his final year after receiving a waiver from the NCAA, earning Preseason honors from the Southwestern Athletic Conference [SWAC], including first team honors and Preseason Player of the Year honors. Last season, he earned SWAC Player of the Year honors, BOXTOROW National Player of the Year honors, HBCUGO Player of the Year honors, and was named All-Region.
• Jackson State will hit the court two times this season - both non-conference games - at 11 a.m. when they face Baylor [Nov. 18] on ESPN+ and then again when they face Memphis [Dec. 2] on ESPN+.
• Tonight's game is the second of three against in-state competition in non-conference action for the Tigers as they will face Ole Miss [Dec. 29] this season after falling to Mississippi State on Nov. 9.
• Eight different players are averaging double-digit minutes this season for the Tigers through the first three games, with McMillian [32.1], Mike Williams [29.5] and Ruffin [28.1] being the only players averaging 25-plus minutes per game.The two teams have met twice all-time in school history, with one of the two ranked in the top 25 - both by Mississippi State. The Bulldogs were ranked No. 22 in 2002 and No. 17 in 2022. 

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