STARKVILLE, Miss. | Mike Williams scored in double figures for the third consecutive game to open the season as Jackson State fell to Mississippi State, 98-55, at Humphrey Coliseum on Monday night.
Williams finished the night with a career-high 23 points on 46.7 (7-of-15) percent shooting from the floor and 75.0 (6-of-8) percent shooting from the arc. He was also perfect from the free throw line, hitting all three of his attempts for Jackson State (1-2).
Trailing 9-4 with 14:19 to play in the first half, Jackson State head coach Trey Johnson elected to go small, and the Tigers went on a 10-4 run over the next two-plus minutes to take a 14-13 lead. Mike Williams hit back-to-back three-pointers during the run and added a pair of free throws, and Daeshun Ruffin added a steal and lay-up in the front court to highlight the run for Jackson State. The two teams traded baskets until Mississippi State closed the half on a 30-8 run over the final nine minutes of the first half to take a 51-29 lead at the half.
Mississippi State (3-0) was able to continue the run in the second half to pull away with the win. Tristan Reed and Josh Hubbard led six Bulldogs in double figures with 14 points each.
Jackson State shot 35.0 (21-of-60) percent from the floor and 33.3 (10-of-30) percent from beyond the arc on the night. They also finished the night shooting 71.4 (5-of-7) percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Mississippi State finished the night shooting 58.2 (39-of-67) percent from the floor and 39.1 (9-of-23) percent from beyond the arc. They also finished the contest shooting 73.3 (11-of-15) percent from the free throw line.
BY THE NUMBERS
Jackson State ended the first half shooting 35.5 (11-of-31) percent from the floor and 33.3 (6-of-18) percent from beyond the arc. They also finished the first half shooting 100.0 (1-of-1) percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Mississippi State finished the first half shooting 64.5 (20-of-31) percent from the floor and 45.5 (5-of-11) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 75.0 (6-of-11) percent from the free throw line.
Mike Williams narrowly missed his career high in the first half with 18 points on 66.7 (6-of-9) percent shooting from the floor, including 71.4 (5-of-7) percent shooting from beyond the arc.Â
Jackson State ended the second half shooting 34.5 (10-of-29) percent from the floor and 33.3 (4-of-12) percent from beyond the arc. They also finished the second half shooting 66.7 (4-of-6) percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Mississippi State finished the second half shooting 52.8 (19-of-36) percent from the floor and 33.3 (4-of-12) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 71.4 (5-of-7) percent from the free throw line.
GAME NOTES
Jackson State started a different lineup for the third consecutive game, going with Daeshun Ruffin, Dorian McMillian, and Delyle William at the guard position, while starting Nikk Williams and AT Manyuon in the front court.
Mike Williams scored in double figures for the third consecutive game to open the season, hitting the mark halfway through the opening half with a three-pointer (giving him 12 at that point). He set a new career-high in the loss, topping the mark of 20 against Tulane (Nov. 5).
The game is the first of three non-conference games against teams from the state of Mississippi, including Southern Miss (Nov. 11) and Ole Miss (Dec. 29).
Up Next
Jackson State returns to action on Wednesday night on the road in Hattiesburg (Miss.) against Southern Miss.
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