AMES – No. 6 Iowa State grabbed an impressive win over No. 5 Marquette at home Wednesday. Next up for the Cyclones is Jackson State, a team that has had a tough road in the early portion of the season.
For starters, Jackson State is 0-8, including blowout losses to Houston and Kentucky. In fact, the Tigers don’t play a home game until Jan. 11. That’s rough.
This is already the third game Jackson State will play against a ranked opponent. Needless to say, they have been a bit of a punching bag in the early part of the season.
Last season, the Tigers went 15-17 overall and 11-7 in the SWAC. Currently, no team in the SWAC has a winning record this season.
Jackson State isn’t the first SWAC team Iowa State has played this season, as the Cyclones defeated Mississippi Valley State in the season opener 83-44.
The Tigers had their best game of this season against Saint Louis but still lost by eight points. This game should be one the Cyclones win, but this is college basketball and crazier things have happened.
Jackson State averages 61.1 points per game and gives up 87.9. For comparison, Iowa State holds opponents to 65.7 points per game and scores 86.
The numbers are fairly similar, which could be telling in how Sunday’s game plays out.
Jackson State is led by redshirt sophomore guard/forward Jayme Mitchell Jr. He has taken the most shots of anyone on the team and is an efficient scorer.
With a shooting percentage of 38.5% and a 3-point percentage of 38%, Mitchell Jr. could pose a problem for the Cyclones. Mitchell Jr. is one of two Jackson State players that averages 10 or more points per game, with Mitchell Jr. at 13.1 and junior guard Daeshun Ruffin who averages exactly 10.
The Tigers’ guard duo will be matched up with Iowa State’s junior Tamin Lipsey and senior Keshon Gilbert. Lipsey has been one of the best defenders for the Cyclones this season, while Gilbert is once again the leading scorer, just like last season.
It was Gilbert’s toughness and grit that took center stage against Marquette. After he took an elbow to the nose and bled on the court, he returned to finish the game in a different jersey.
After the game, Gilbert’s wound was still not fully patched up and blood continued to trickle down his face when he and forward Joshua Jefferson spoke to the media.
A win over Jackson State would be Iowa State’s 23rd consecutive home victory.
The Cyclones face Jackson State at 5 p.m. Sunday from Hilton Coliseum. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
