The losing skid continued Tuesday night as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff suffered its fifth loss in its past six men’s basketball games.
Jackson State edged UAPB 81-78 at the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center in Jackson, Miss. Jackson State (10-20, 9-8 SWAC) senior guard Daeshun Ruffin, who didn’t play when the Golden Lions defeated the Tigers 84-63 in Pine Bluff on Feb. 9, scored 38 points. He was one point shy of his season high.
Ruffin made 10 of his 27 shots from the field, including 4 of 12 from three-point range, while shooting 14 of 17 from the free throw line. He also collected four rebounds and four assists.
UAPB (12-18, 9-8) outscored Jackson State 42-37 in the second half but couldn’t overcome a 44-36 halftime deficit.
Senior guard Quion Williams hit a three-pointer with 11.2 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 80-78. After Jackson State redshirt junior Jayme Mitchell Jr. split a pair of free throws, UAPB had a chance to send the game to overtime with one more three-pointer.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Williams missed the would-be game-tying shot, but the Tigers fumbled the rebound out of play with 1.8 seconds remaining.
Freshman guard Milhan Charles fired an inbounds pass across the court to Williams, who tried to reach over Ruffin as Ruffin backed into him. Williams caught the ball, but the contact with Ruffin caused him to fall to the court. Jackson State stole the ball as he tried to pass it to junior guard Trevon Payton, and the Tigers ran down the court as time expired.
UAPB demanded a foul call against Ruffin but none was called. Williams had to be held back as he ran to yell at an official who was leaving the court.
Williams finished with a team-high 21 points to go with eight rebounds. Senior guard Alex Mirhosseini scored 19 points but fouled out after playing 31 minutes. Senior forward Jaquan Scott scored 14 points with 10 rebounds.
Both teams spent much of the second half at the free throw line. UAPB finished the game 21 of 24 from the stripe, while Jackson State shot 24 of 30 in a game with a combined 38 fouls called.
The Tigers scored their last eight points from the free throw line and didn’t make a shot from the field in the final 5:40.
Extra possessions helped Jackson State. The Tigers scored 21 points off 16 UAPB turnovers and added 15 points off 16 offensive rebounds. Jackson State turned the ball over 10 times and gave up 11 offensive rebounds.
UAPB will close out the regular season Thursday at Alcorn State in Lorman, Miss.