Jackson State edges Tulane in thrilling 87-85 upset

Jackson State stole a road victory from Tulane with a dramatic 87-85 final score, silencing predictions that favored the home crowd. The Green Wave’s narrow two-point deficit underscored a contest where early-season form proved far less reliable than historical home-court advantages suggested.

Before the tip-off, the prevailing analytical narrative heavily leaned on Tulane’s recent momentum and the statistical weight of home games, which historically succeed in nearly two-thirds of college matchups. Analysts argued that Jackson State’s inconsistent play made them vulnerable, overlooking the raw individual talent capable of overriding team-level trends.

The forecast missed its mark by dismissing Jackson State’s potential based on a shallow sample size of prior games. In reality, Deyan Kolev’s dominant scoring performance for the Tigers, coupled with crucial buckets from Daeshun Ruffin and Dorian McMillian, dismantled the assumption that Tulane’s cohesion would be decisive. The game’s intense finish, sealed by Ruffin’s free throw with just one second remaining, confirmed that home-field momentum often dissolves under the pressure of elite individual performances.