Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Defeat Jackson State Tigers in SWAC Matchup

Bethune-Cookman's defense and balanced scoring too much for Jackson State

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats defeated the Jackson State Tigers 78-71 in a key SWAC college basketball matchup. Bethune-Cookman's stifling defense and balanced scoring attack proved too much for Jackson State, who struggled to contain the Wildcats' perimeter threats and interior presence.

Why it matters

This win keeps Bethune-Cookman atop the SWAC standings, while Jackson State falls further back in the conference race. The game highlighted the contrasting styles of the two teams, with Bethune-Cookman's disciplined defense and efficient offense proving to be the difference against Jackson State's up-tempo attack.

The details

Bethune-Cookman was led by guard Jakobi Heady's 17 points, while forward Daniel Rouzan added 11 points on efficient 50.7% shooting. The Wildcats' defense forced 19 Jackson State fouls and held the Tigers to just 39.3% shooting from the field. Jackson State guard Daeshun Ruffin scored a game-high 23 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Bethune-Cookman's balanced effort.

  • The game was played on Monday, February 16, 2026.

The players

Jakobi Heady

A guard for the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats who scored 17 points in the game.

Daniel Rouzan

A forward for the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats who scored 11 points on 50.7% shooting.

Daeshun Ruffin

A guard for the Jackson State Tigers who scored a game-high 23 points.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to come in and play tough defense against a talented Jackson State team. Our guys executed the game plan well and were able to get some key stops down the stretch.”

— Jakobi Heady, Guard, Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (Bethune-Cookman Athletics)

What’s next

Bethune-Cookman will look to continue its strong SWAC play when it hosts Alabama A&M on Saturday, February 21st. Jackson State will try to rebound when it travels to take on Prairie View A&M on Thursday, February 19th.

The takeaway

Bethune-Cookman's disciplined defensive effort and balanced scoring attack proved to be the difference in this key SWAC matchup. The win keeps the Wildcats atop the conference standings, while Jackson State will need to regroup and find more consistency on both ends of the floor to stay in the hunt.