College basketball is weird. One day you’re looking at a schedule thinking a game is a total blowout, and the next, you’re watching a SWAC underdog nearly topple an Atlantic 10 powerhouse in their own building. That’s exactly what we saw when Jackson State vs Saint Louis hit the floor recently at Chaifetz Arena. It wasn't just a game; it was a 40-minute lesson in why you never bet against a team with nothing to lose.
Most people figured the Saint Louis Billikens would just cruise. They had the home-court advantage, the depth, and players like Robbie Avila and Gibson Jimerson who can basically score in their sleep. But Jackson State? They didn't get the memo.
The Chaos at Chaifetz
Let’s be real. Jackson State walked into that arena with a 0-8 record. On paper, they were supposed to be a "tune-up" game. Instead, they spent the first half treating the Billikens like they were the ones in a slump. The Tigers actually jumped out to an 11-point lead at one point. Can you imagine the silence in that crowd? It was 30-19 with five minutes left in the half, and honestly, the Billikens looked shell-shocked.
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Jackson State was hitting shots from everywhere. Dorian McMillian and Jayme Mitchell Jr. were playing like they were at Rucker Park, not a hostile D1 arena. They went into the locker room up 35-30. For a team looking for its first win, that kind of confidence is dangerous.
Why the Tigers Almost Pulled It Off
It wasn't luck. Jackson State exploited a few things that Saint Louis struggled with early on.
- Turnover Pressure: The Tigers forced 15 turnovers. They were scrappy. They were in passing lanes.
- Bench Energy: Jayme Mitchell Jr. came off the bench and just started torching the net. He finished with 14 points, leading a bench unit that outscored SLU's reserves 22-8.
- The Daeshun Ruffin Factor: This was Ruffin's first game of the season. If you know his history from Ole Miss, you know he’s a high-level talent. Having him back on the floor changed the entire dynamic for Mo Williams' squad.
How Saint Louis Stole the Win Back
Experience usually wins out in the last five minutes of a college game. That’s exactly what happened here. With about 4:38 left on the clock, Jackson State was actually leading 64-63. It was right there for them. Then, the Billikens remembered they have Gibson Jimerson.
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Jimerson is one of those shooters where if he sees one go in, it’s over. He had 19 points in the second half alone. Nineteen! He finished with 21, and he didn't do it alone. Isaiah Swope was the floor general SLU needed, putting up 18 points and seven assists.
The turning point was an 11-2 run by the Billikens to close the game. Jackson State just ran out of gas. When Robbie Avila—the big man with the goggles who everyone calls "Cream Abdul-Jabbar"—hit a massive three to make it 68-64, the air just left the Tigers' balloon.
The Statistical Oddity
If you look at the box score of Jackson State vs Saint Louis, there's one stat that makes zero sense. Saint Louis shot 36.4% from the free-throw line. In a close game, that’s usually a death sentence. They missed 14 free throws! Usually, a team loses that game 10 times out of 10. They survived because they dominated the glass, out-rebounding Jackson State 43-30. Kalu Anya was a beast on the boards with 11 rebounds.
What This Means for the 2025-26 Season
Looking at where these teams are now in early 2026, those early non-conference battles set the tone.
Saint Louis has used that grit to stay competitive in the A-10. They’ve had high-scoring affairs, like their 102-79 win over Saint Joseph’s and a massive 112-53 blowout of Bethune-Cookman. Coach Josh Schertz has this team playing fast and free. They’ve proven they can win ugly (like against JSU) and win pretty.
Jackson State, on the other hand, is a different animal in SWAC play. They’ve had a tough road—literally. Their non-conference schedule was a gauntlet: Illinois, Louisville, Auburn, Houston. They took some beatings, sure, but playing teams like Saint Louis prepared them for the conference grind. We saw that pay off in January 2026 with a tight 89-86 win over Alcorn State and a solid road win at Alabama State.
Key Takeaways for Fans and Bettors
If you're following these teams as the season winds down, keep these nuances in mind:
- SLU's Perimeter Defense: They can be vulnerable to quick guards. If a team has a backcourt like Jackson State's, they can keep it closer than the spread suggests.
- JSU's Second Half Stamina: Mo Williams has the talent, but depth can be an issue against high-major or high-mid-major programs.
- The "Avila" Effect: Robbie Avila isn't just a meme. His ability to pass (7 assists in the JSU game) makes the Saint Louis offense incredibly hard to scout. You can't just double-team the shooters because the big man will pick you apart.
The Jackson State vs Saint Louis matchup is a perfect example of why mid-major and HBCU basketball is so compelling. You have storied programs, elite individual talent, and games that come down to the final two minutes despite what the "experts" predict.
Your Next Steps to Stay Updated
Don't just rely on the final scores. To really understand how these teams are trending as we head toward March:
- Check the Injury Reports: For Jackson State, the health of Daeshun Ruffin is the difference between a middle-of-the-pack SWAC team and a championship contender.
- Watch the A-10 Standings: Saint Louis is in a dogfight with VCU and Dayton. Every home game at Chaifetz is a must-win to secure a high seed for the tournament.
- Follow the Point Spreads: If you see Jackson State as a double-digit underdog in a road game, look at the turnover stats of their opponent. If that opponent is sloppy with the ball, JSU is a prime candidate to cover the spread.
The Tigers and Billikens might not play every year, but when they do, it’s almost always more interesting than the national media gives it credit for. Keep an eye on Jimerson’s scoring title run and whether Mo Williams can finally get the Tigers over the hump in the SWAC tournament.