LUBBOCK, Texas | Dorian McMillian and Mike Williams scored in double figures, but it wasn't enough as Jackson State dropped its season opener to No. 19 Texas 76-42 at the United Supermarkets Arena on Monday night.
Williams led Jackson State (0-1) with 11 points on 4-of-12 shooting from the floor, his first game since a season-ending injury last season against Hampton (Dec. 18). The double-figure game is the second career game and was just one point shy of his career-high 12 scored against Kennesaw State (Dec. 2). McMillian finished with 10 points, his third consecutive game going back to last season and his 35th career game in double figures.
Nikk Williams grabbed a career-high nine rebounds to lead Jackson State.
Jackson State finished the night shooting 29.2 (14-of-48) percent from the floor in the second half, including 20.7 (6-of-29) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 57.1 (8-of-14) percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Texas Tech shot 45.5 (25-of-55) percent from the floor in the second half, including 23.3 (7-of-30) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 61.3 (19-of-31) percent from the free throw line.
Damarion Dennis led Texas Tech (1-0) with 22 points, pacing three players in double figures.
BY THE NUMBERS
Jackson State ended the first half shooting 24.0 (6-of-25) percent from the floor and 19.0 (4-of-21) percent from beyond the arc. They also finished the first half shooting 33.3 (2-of-6) percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Texas Tech finished the first half shooting 44.4 (12-of-27) percent from the floor and 26.7 (4-of-15) percent from beyond the arc. They also finished the first half shooting 58.8 (10-of-17) percent from the free throw line.Â
The two teams combined to attempt 36 three-pointers, with Jackson State attempting 21 and Texas Tech 15. Meanwhile, the Tigers took just eight from beyond the arc in the second half.
The Tigers shot 34.8 (8-of-23) percent from the floor in the second half, including 25.0 (2-of-8) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 75.0 (6-of-8) percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Texas Tech shot 46.4 (13-of-28) percent from the floor in the second half, including 64.3 (9-of-14) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 64.3 (9-of-14) percent from the free throw line.
GAME NOTES
Jackson State's first starting line-up of the year consisted of McMillian, Daeshun Ruffin, Mike Williams, Kobe Butler, and Jayden Williams (the only player to start his first game at Jackson State). They came out in the second half with Nikk Williams instead of Jayden Williams.
Although the game was the first for Trey Johnson as the head coach at Jackson State, it was the second game inside United Supermarkets Arena that he led a team against the Red Raiders, as he served as the interim head coach when on the staff at Alabama State in 2021.
Tonight's game was the first of two games against ranked opponents in the preseason poll, with the Tigers facing No. 8 Texas in December.
Jackson State has four Williamses on the roster, with all four seeing action in the first half.
The Tigers challenged the first play if the 2026-27 season with 9:05 remaining in the contest on a contested ball out of bounds, getting the call overturned.
Up Next
Jackson State returns to action on Thursday on the road in New Orleans (La.) on ESPN+.
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