DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Following a 2-0 road trip, the Wildcats will look to keep it rolling in key conference matchups against Jackson State and Alcorn State at Moore Gymnasium.


What: Game Nineteen
Who: Bethune-Cookman (7-11, 4-1) vs. Jackson State (5-13, 4-1)
When: Saturday, Jan. 24, at 4 p.m. EST
Where: Daytona Beach, Fla. – Moore Gymnasium
 
Watch: Watch ESPN
Listen: CatEye Network Radio
Live Stats: Click Here 
 
What: Game Twenty
Who: Bethune-Cookman vs. Alcorn State (3-14, 2-3)
When: Monday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Daytona Beach, Fla. – Moore Gymnasium
 
Watch: SWAC TV
Listen: CatEye Network Radio
Live Stats: Click Here


1^st Half
Bethune-Cookman (7-11, 4-1) began the game on a 7-0 run, holding Arkansas Pine-Bluff (6-13, 3-3) without a made-field goal for the first three minutes of action.

Following an early timeout, the Golden Lions responded with an 11-2 run to take the lead, forcing five Wildcat turnovers in the process.

The score remained a one-possession contest until late in the half. With 5:02 left, Arterio Morris converted an and-one opportunity to give B-CU a 26-25 lead. UAPB would rattle of the next eight points on two made three-pointers and an and-one of their own by Milhan Charles.

The Lions' run was enough to give them the lead at the break, 37-32. UAPB shot 56.5% in the first half while holding B-CU to 1-of-8 shooting from behind the arc.

Arterio Morris led the Cats with 9 points, while Milhan Charles finished with 11 to lead Pine Bluff.
 
2^nd Half
The Golden Lions offense would not be denied to begin the second. UAPB used a stretch of seven straight made field-goals to build their largest lead of the game at 17 at 16:10.

Bethune-Cookman would not let the game get away, as they turned up the head on the defensive end. The following ten minutes, the Golden Lions went 0-for-8 and had six turnovers, allowing the Wildcats to go on a 22-3 run to retake the lead following a pair of Jakobi Heady free-throws.

The remainder of the half was tightly contested, with both teams getting to the free-throw line at a high rate. Neither team converted at a high level, shooting below 70% in the period.

Tied at 69, Arkansas – Pine Bluff had an opportunity to win the game with just under 30 seconds remaining. But good defense by the Wildcats forced a tough shot by Alex Mirhosseini, leading to a fast break chance for B-CU. The Wildcats could not convert with time expiring, forcing overtime to decide the outcome.
 
Overtime
Seneca Willoughby hit a three-pointer on the Wildcats' first shot attempt of the overtime period, giving them the lead that they would not relinquish. B-CU made all four of their field goal attempts in the period and converted eight of their nine attempts from the free-throw line.

The Wildcats completed the comeback win, 87-82.


Jackson State
The Tigers are 5-13 on the season, but are coming off a 2-0 homestand against Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern to improve to 4-1 in the SWAC. Their lone loss came on the road at Alabama A&M.

The leader scorer for Jackson State is Daeshun Ruffin. The senior guard is averaging 21.6 points per game, good for 14th in the country. Ruffin also leads the team in assists (96) and steals (25).

JSU ranks last in the SWAC in field goal percentage and points allowed per game. They are first in the league in three-pointers made per game (8.2) and free-throw percentage (.767).

Alcorn State
The Braves have a 3-14 record and are 2-3 in SWAC play. Their previous two games were both decided by one-point, a 72-71 loss to Texas Southern and a 76-75 win over Prairie View.

Alcorn's leading scorer is junior guard Shane Lancaster. He is scoring 11.6 points per game on .512/.514/.773 shooting splits. He is the only player on the Braves currently scoring in double figures.

ASU ranks toward the bottom of the SWAC in most statistical category. The one area they excel is three-point percentage, shooting 35% on around 20 attempts per game.



The Tigers lead the all-time series with the Wildcats 7-2 and have won the previous four matchups dating back to 2023.

Alcorn State and B-CU have met 10 times previously. The Wildcats beat the Braves last season but are 3-7 overall against them.


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