JACKSON, Miss. (Interstat) — Daeshun Ruffin scored 38 points to lead Jackson State to an 81-78 men’s basketball victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday night at Lee Williams Athletic Center. The Tigers held off a second-half rally to split the season series.

Jackson State led 44-36 at halftime, but the Golden Lions surged after intermission. Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Quion Williams scored 21 points and Alex Mirhosseini added 19. Ruffin’s 38 points, including four assists, proved decisive for the Tigers. Jayme Mitchell added 10 points for Jackson State.

The Tigers improved to 10-20 overall. The Golden Lions fell to 12-18. An announced crowd of 768 attended the SWAC contest.