JACKSON, Miss. – Jackson State used a pair of big runs Wednesday to pick up an 89-66 non-conference win over Southeastern Louisiana at the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center.

Southeastern (2-11) closed out its non-conference slate, opening Southland Conference play Monday at home in doubleheader action with the Lady Lions.

Zay Jackson sparked the Lions early, draining a pair of 3-pointers before the first media timeout, to give Southeastern a 9-6 advantage at the 15:34 mark.

Jackson State (5-8) took a 17-15 lead coming out of the second media timeout on a pair of free throws by Chace Franklin, but Mike Hawkins put the Lions back on top after converting on a 4-point play with 11:23 remaining until halftime.

The Tigers took control of the half with a 19-5 run that began at the 8:53 mark on a 3-pointer by Janarius Middleton, eventually finding themselves up 39-25 with 3:37 remaining in the half.

Joshua Filmore got a runner to fall with one second remaining before halftime, pulling the Lions within 45-34.

In the second half Hawkins hit another 3-pointer, bringing Southeastern within 49-39, at the 16:32 mark. Over the next 6:30 the Tigers expanded their lead by seven to hit the midway point of the half on top, 64-47.

Jackson State padded its lead with a 16-4 run, going up 75-51 on Franklin's jumper at the 6:01 mark.

Jackson, a senior from Hammond, Louisiana, led all players with 23 points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Hawkins (12) and Filmore (10) also reach double-figure scoring totals. Dominic Nelson, a junior from the Bronx, New York, scored a career-high eight points and also hauled in six boards.

Southeastern shot 52.3 percent (23-of-44) from the floor, including 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from 3-point range. The Lions were 12-of-25 (48 percent) from the free throw line.

Five Tigers, including Raeford Williams who recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, reached double digits in points. Paris Collins scored 22 to lead Jackson State. Kaven Bernard (21), Franklin (15) and Middleton (12) were also key contributors.

Jackson State shot 48.4 percent (31-of-64) from the floor, including 41.7 percent (10-of-24) from 3-point range. The Tigers were 17-of-22 (77.3 percent) from the free throw line and out-rebounded Southeastern, 39-26.

The Lions returns to the University Center, Jan. 4, to open conference play at 7 p.m. against defending Southland Conference champion Stephen F. Austin in the second half of a doubleheader with the Lady Lions.

Advanced tickets for home basketball games can be purchased online at www.LionSports.net/Tickets or through the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office, located in Room 107 of the Dugas Center for Southeastern Athletics.

Courtside Top Cat seats are $35 for doubleheaders. General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children (age 3-12). Southeastern students will be admitted free to home games with a valid university ID card.

Closed for the holidays, the ticket office will reopen for normal business hours on Jan. 4. For more information, contact the ticket office at (985) 549-5466 or 1-866-LION-TIX. Ticket office hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Fridays.


SOUTHEASTERN LA. (2-11)
Jackson, Zay 9-11 2-3 23; Hawkins, Mike 3-8 3-3 12; Filmore, Joshua 4-7 0-1 10; Nelson, Dominic 3-4 2-6 8; Capps, Jordan 2-5 2-5 6; Grieves, Daniel 1-4 1-1 3; Greenwood, Mo 0-3 2-6 2; Veal, Marlain 1-2 0-0 2; Reid, Malcolm 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-44 12-25 66.

JACKSON STATE (5-8)
Collins, Paris 8-15 4-4 22; Bernard, Kaven 8-14 1-1 21; Franklin, Chace 4-10 4-5 15; Middleton, Janarius 4-8 3-4 12; Worsham, Raeford 5-7 1-4 11; Bolden, Treshawn 1-1 2-2 4; Robinson, Dontaveon 0-0 2-2 2; Stancil, Troy 1-3 0-0 2; Felton, Anfernee 0-1 0-0 0; Brent, Javeres 0-2 0-0 0; Specks, Yettra 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 31-64 17-22 89.

Southeastern La............... 34 32 - 66
Jackson State.................... 45 44 - 89

3-point goals--Southeastern La. 8-17 (Hawkins, Mike 3-6; Jackson, Zay 3-4; Filmore, Joshua 2-4; Grieves, Daniel 0-3), Jackson State 10-24 (Bernard, Kaven 4-5; Franklin, Chace 3-7; Collins, Paris 2-5; Middleton, Janarius 1-2; Stancil, Troy 0-1; Brent, Javeres 0-1; Specks, Yettra 0-3). Fouled out--Southeastern La.-None, Jackson State-None. Rebounds--Southeastern La. 26 (Nelson, Dominic 6; Jackson, Zay 6), Jackson State 39 (Worsham, Raeford 11). Assists--Southeastern La. 12 (Veal, Marlain 3; Filmore, Joshua 3), Jackson State 20 (Middleton, Janarius 6). Total fouls--Southeastern La. 19, Jackson State 19. Technical fouls--Southeastern La.-None, Jackson State-None. A-703