Auburn men’s basketball returns to Neville Arena on Wednesday night, hosting Jackson State in a non-conference matchup set for 8 p.m. CST on SEC Network.
The Tigers enter the week at 3–1 overall and a perfect 3–0 at home. They are looking to bounce back after a narrow 73–72 loss to No. 1 Houston. That game, despite ending in a loss, showed just how tough and composed this Auburn team can be. Senior guard-forward Keyshawn Hall powered the Tigers with 20 points, continuing a breakout start to the season.
Hall has been nothing short of dominant across Auburn’s first four games; however, he will miss Wednesday's game with a lateral ankle and foot sprain.
Sophomore guard Tahaad Pettiford has also made an early impact, averaging 3.0 assists per game while providing a spark in the backcourt. As a team, Auburn is averaging 88.8 points per game and allowing 70.5, numbers that reflect a fast, confident offense and a defense still finding its rhythm before getting into conference play.
The Tigers are coming off a 32–6 season and a 13–2 mark at Neville Arena in 2024–25, and they have looked equally comfortable at home so far this year. Depth and leadership have been strengths early, but Auburn will look to clean up long-range shooting and stretches of inconsistent defense as they settle into their non-conference slate.
The Jackson State Tigers will arrive in Auburn still searching for their first win of the season. The Tigers are 0-3 and have struggled to find footing on both ends of the floor, averaging 58.7 points while giving up 95.7 per game. Shooting has been a challenge, as Jackson State is hitting just 32.6 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from 3-point range while averaging 12.3 turnovers per game, which will be key for Auburn to take advantage of.
Jackson State has a pair of dependable scorers on the offensive side to put up a fight. Senior guard Daeshun Ruffin leads the team at 14.7 points per game and plays heavy minutes, while Jayme Mitchell Jr. adds 13.3 points and gives another perimeter threat. If Jackson State hopes to hang around, both will need strong nights against an Auburn defense that thrives at home and tends to feed off the crowd energy in the jungle.
The key for Auburn will be simple: establish pace, involve Hall early, and pressure Jackson State into tough shots. For Jackson State, keeping turnovers in check and finding offense — either from deep or through second-chance rebounds — will be critical to staying competitive.
Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. Wednesday at Neville Arena in Auburn, Alabama. Fans can watch live on SEC Network or follow updates through Auburn Athletics.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
Sarah is a sophomore majoring in public relations. She started with The Plainsman in the spring of 2025.
