JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Jay Howard scored 12 points off the bench, Chris English scored 10 and NAIA Blue Mountain College surprised Jackson State 57-49 on Thursday night, the Toppers' second win over a Division-I school this season.
The Toppers (6-2), who beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 77-74 in triple overtime last month, stretched a 23-20 halftime lead to 11 on an English layup less than five minutes into the second half and had an answer for every challenge by the Tigers (3-7).
English made a pair of free throws with 50 seconds left to make it 52-43 and two more after a 3-pointer by Paris Collins. Three more free throws after Jackson State misses sealed it.
The Toppers shot 53 percent and made 13 of 15 free throws in the second half and 10 of 11 players scored, giving them a 26-0 advantage in bench points.
Jackson State shot just 30.5 percent, going 4 of 31 from 3-point range and made just 9 of 15 free throws. Edric Denis scored 15 points.
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