Hannah Robinson
Staff Writer
Bodies flew, sneakers screeched, and the hardwood echoed with every fall. The Jackson State University Men’s Basketball team did not walk away with a win, but they left with a new understanding of what it means to work as a team.
In their 81–71 exhibition loss to the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) on Oct. 27, the Tigers gave their home crowd at the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center a show of confidence and fiery teamwork in progress.
“It’s back and forth, back and forth,” said Mayson Bell, a junior biology/pre-med major from Atlanta, Ga., watching from the stands. “Everyone’s falling on the floor, but I think we’re doing better than last year.”
Bell was not wrong. The Tigers played with a hunger that reached beyond the scoreboard. Excitement was palpable within the packed court, with many students coming to support the team.
“This was just an exhibition game,” said Trey Johnson, associate head coach for the men’s basketball team. “We didn’t play as well as we would like, but we knew coming in we’ve got a lot of young guys…Practice is one thing, but the game is another. We didn’t shoot the ball well, but that’s something that can be fixed. We’ve also got to be better defensively. We gave up way too many points at the rim, and that’s just not going to work.”
Despite being outrebounded 53–28 and missing key post players like redshirt junior Dionjahe Thomas (Forward), senior Raevon Thomas (Forward), and sophomore Ebo Wilson (Center), Jackson State’s guards carried the load with determination.
Junior guard Daeshun Ruffin led the Tigers with 25 points, connecting on 12-of-13 free throws. His fearlessness defined the tone of the night as he kept darting into the heat, forcing contact, and refusing to back down.
“Dmac is doing his thing,” Bell said. “He won a preseason award, [so] we’re going pretty good.”
Sophomore guard Dorian McMillian followed with 23 points on 6-of-16 shooting, proving that he’s ready for the college stage. His command of the floor and confident jump shot showed poise that belied his age. Redshirt sophomore Jayme Mitchell, Jr. added 12 points and went perfect from the free-throw line, rounding out the trio of double-digit scorers.
Kayla Newton, a senior biology/pre-med major from Montgomery, Ala., said she felt that same drive in the crowd.
“We came with a lot of energy,” Newton said. “People doubted us, but we’re staying in there. I think we can pull this thing through.”
There was undoubtedly an effort forming from the JSU men’s basketball team. The Tigers shot just 28 percent from the field, but they refused to let missed shots define the game. Instead, they fought for fouls and converted from the line, finishing 31-of-38 on free throws (81 percent).
Ekam Singh, a sophomore business administration major from Elk Grove, Calif., admired that resilience.
“I feel like we fought hard,” Singh shared. “It’s all right…we’ll get them next time for sure. We played well. There were a couple of bad calls by the ref for sure, but overall, we did well.”
Even behind the bench, the message was clear that teamwork takes time.
“They’re going to be good,” Sports medicine assistant Jaquwan Nelson stated. “They still have some stuff to work on, but it’s the first game for a reason. They just have to trust one another on the floor more. So if they can do that, they should be pretty good to go.”
Nelson noted that the team’s guard play stood out, but rebounding and rhythm would be the key to moving forward.
“Rebounding is going to be a big thing…as we get into conference play,” Nelson said. “We know what we got from our older guys, we want to just chop away at it, one game at a time. We want everybody to understand what we expect of them and what their role is, and that’s the goal. “
That theme of trust and time ran through every conversation that night. Coach Johnson said the team’s focus this season will be to “take it one day at a time.” He added, “One practice at a time, one game at a time. Not getting too high, not getting too low, just staying married to the work.”
The loss may sting on paper, but Jackson State’s performance said something more profound for the current season. The Tigers showed discipline in moments that tested patience, as well as unity in moments that demanded grit.
Jackson State will open the regular season on Nov. 3 against No. 14 Illinois. This will mark the start of five consecutive road games, four of which are against ranked opponents. For a young roster, it’s a challenge that will demand exactly what this exhibition revealed: trust and communication.
