Daytona Beach, FL – Bethune-Cookman men's basketball hits the road once again this weekend, this time for a pair of games against Alcorn State and Jackson State in Mississippi. The Wildcats open the weekend against the Braves on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 4 p.m., followed by a trip to visit the Tigers for a Valentine's Day matchup at 8:30 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION
 
Saturday, Feb. 12
Opponent: Alcorn State (9-14, 8-3 SWAC)
Time: 4 p.m. EST
Location: Lorman, Miss. / Davey L. Whitney Complex

Monday, Feb. 14
Opponent: Jackson State (6-16, 4-7 SWAC)
Time: 8:30 p.m. EST
Location: Jackson, Miss. / Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Cent
Live Stats: https://gojsutigers.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Watch: https://jacksonstatesportsnetwork.com/
 
Recap
 
The Wildcats took a split of last weekend's homestand, opening the weekend with a 68-67 victory over Prairie View A&M. On Monday, the Wildcats took a tough, 66-63 loss to Texas Southern, despite climbing all the way back from down as much as 18.
 
Joe French scored 39 points over the two games, while Kevin Davis scored 33 and Marcus Garrett added 28.
 
The Wildcats currently sit in the final playoff spot in the SWAC. B-CU's 4-7 conference record ties them with Jackson State, Alabama A&M, and Prairie View A&M – only a single non-conference win separates the Wildcats from the ninth-place spot. With only seven games remaining in the regular season, and the SWAC tournament featuring only the top eight teams in the conference, each game is critical for the Wildcats down the stretch.
 
Scouting the Braves
 
Alcorn State is 9-14 this season with an 8-3 record in conference play. The Braves are winners of back-to-back contests over Arkansas – Pine Bluff and Mississippi Valley State.
 
The Braves edged the Wildcats, 70-67 on Jan. 24. Garrett scored 21, while French and Davis followed in double figures in the loss. B-CU had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer, but a three-pointer fell short.
 
Alcorn State sits middle of the SWAC pack in both offense and defense, averaging 65 points per game and allowing an average of 72 per game. The Braves are shooting 41 percent from the field and 32 percent from deep. They are the best free throw shooting team in the SWAC at 73 percent as a team.
 
Troymain Crosby leads his team with 19 points per game, as well as over five rebounds per game.
 
Scouting the Tigers
 
Jackson State is 6-16 and 4-7 in conference play. They last faced the Wildcats on Jan. 22 when B-CU took a 55-50 victory behind a strong defensive effort and some valuable play off the bench. Jackson State is 2-3 in five games since, though they have won their last two.
 
Jackson State averages only 59 points per game but allows only 66 per game – the second-best mark in the conference. The Tigers are shooting 38 percent from the field and only 29 percent from three. The Tigers are the SWAC's best blocking team, averaging almost five rejections per game.  
 
Jayveous McKinnis leads Jackson State with 12 points per game. He is the SWAC's best rebounder, averaging almost seven per game. He is also the SWAC's most efficient shooter among qualified players – he has made over 55 percent of his shots this season – most coming around the rim.
 
Notes

• Joe French averages the second-most points in the SWAC at 15.8. He ranks first in three-point percentage and three-point attempts, as well as sixth in overall shooting percentage at 43.5 percent.
• Marcus Garrett continues to climb the SWAC scoreboard, currently sitting in thirteenth with 12 points per game.
• The Wildcats have gotten to the free throw line at least 15 times in five straight games.
• B-CU has made at least one three-pointer in every game this season, including a season-high eight in Monday's loss to Texas Southern.

 
All-Time Series
 
Monday will be the third-ever meeting between B-CU and Alcorn State. The series is tied at 1-1.
 
Monday will be the second-ever meeting of B-CU and Jackson State.
 
 
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