ASU (17-9/13-4 SWAC) enters the game looking to secure the second seed in next week's Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament.  The Hornets are even with Southern entering the final game of the season, but hold the tie break over the Jaguars should they both win tomorrow night based on ASU's series sweep of Southern during the regular season.
 
"We still have a lot we are playing for tomorrow night in trying to be seeded as high as we can during the tournament," Head Coach Lewis Jackson said.  "Jackson State has been playing as good as anyone in the conference the second half of the conference season so we have our work cut out for us."
 
Jackson State (11-19/9-8 SWAC) enters the game winners of three of their past four games, with the lone loss being a slim two-point loss at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.  Of their last three losses there was the two-pointer at UAPB, a six-point loss to Prairie View and a slim 71-70 overtime loss at Texas Southern.
 
"Jackson State has found their rhythm on offense and their defense is one of the best in the conference," Jackson said.  "They are playing a lot better than they were when we faced them at home a long time ago.  They play hard on defense and really try to force you into bad passes and bad shots.  They do a good job of limiting you to one shot and their offense is a deliberate offense that has become very effective."
 
ASU defeated JSU 72-52 back on Jan. 5 when Steve Rogers came off the bench to lead four players in double digits with 14 points.  ASU shot 47 percent from the field as Jamel Waters scored 13, Maurice Strong 12 and DeMarcus Robinson 11.
 
Kaven Bernard was the lone Tiger to reach double digits, but did record a double-double with a game-high 16 points and game-high 10 rebounds.
 
Raeford Worsham is JSU's leading scorer at 12.1 points per game and is the team's leading rebounder averaging 7.4 per game.  Bernard averages 11.1 points per game and 5.9 rebounds while coming off the bench for JSU.
 
Jamel Waters (13.4) and DeMarcus Robinson (10.2) continue to lead ASU in scoring.  Maurice Strong (7.3), Luther Page (5.5) and Bobby Brown (5.2) lead ASU's rebounding efforts while Waters is coming off a seven assist-no turnovers effort against Grambling State and now has 135 assists on the season.
 
The Hornets will leave for Montgomery immediately following the game to begin their quick turnaround preparations for a Monday departure for Houston, Texas and the SWAC Tournament which begins with the opening games Tuesday, March 10.