Box Score / Photo Gallery  - John Smith was a basket shy of a double-double with eight points and a career-high 12 rebounds, as the Bulldogs fell 62-53 to Jackson State at T.M. Elmore Gymnasium on Monday night. A&M was held to a 32.2 percent shooting clip, but forced 22 JSU turnovers. Trant Simpson was a perfect 5-for-5 from the charity stripe and tallied a team-high 14 points. Jonathan Inman had a productive evening chipping in with 10 points, five boards, and two blocks. Smith also recorded a game-high four swats in the loss. A&M will travel to play Mississippi Valley on Sat. Jan. 10. The game is slated for 7:30 p.m.

The Bulldogs started off slow, with its first two points of the game coming off a basket by Inman at the 16:55 mark. JSU led by as many as 14 with 12:32 left in the first 20 until Royce Hamilton ignited A&M to go on a 14-1 run, capped by a Trant Simpson layup to tie the score at 23 all at the 6:23 mark. Hamilton scored six of his eight total points during the Bulldog run. A&M took a 30-27 edge heading into intermission.

The Tigers came out of intermission and regained the advantage at the 15:55 mark off a Jeremy Caldwell dunk. JSU increased its margin to 50-41 with nine minutes remaining in the second period. Highlighted by a dunk from Inman, the Bulldogs went on an 8-2 run to slice into the advantage and bring the team to within three, 52-49. Inman had six points during the span. A&M, however did not fully overcome to deficit and never regained the advantage. A pair by Simpson at the stripe with seven seconds ended scoring and the Bulldogs fell 62-53.

Four Tigers placed in double figures with Caldwell's 14 points and 10 boards leading the way. Darrion Griffin had 13 points and six rebounds. Grant Maxey and Rod Melvin tallied 11 and 10 points, respectively. De'Suan Dixon dished out five assists and Cason Burk pulled down a team-high nine boards.

A&M will travel to Itta Bena, Miss. to face Mississippi Valley for a 7:30 tip.