By Annabella Ramirez
3/15/2025
ATLANTA, Ga.- CJ Hines collected 20 points to help lead the Alabama State men’s basketball team past the Jackson State Tigers 60-56 at the Gateway Center Arena at College Park on Saturday. It’s the Hornets first SWAC championship since the 2010-11 season.
Hines led the Hornets (19-15) with 20 points and three steals. TJ Madlock tacked on seven points, 12 rebounds, three steals, and two blocks
The Alabama State offense was productive from beyond the arc, pouring nine threes. Hines was the most prolific shooter for the Hornets, draining four treys in the contest.
Alabama State’s defense held Jackson State to only 37 percent shooting from the field, including 29.4 percent from beyond the arc. The Hornets also limited Daeshun Ruffin to 4-of-16 shooting and nine points in the game.
JSU’s Shannon Grant had an impressive performance finishing with 20 and nine rebounds.
Hines was named the Most Valuable Player for the tournament and was joined by fellow teammate Madlock on the all-tournament team.
A complete listing of the 2025 SWAC All-Tournament Team is listed below.
All-Tournament Team
Kintavious Dozier, Grambling State
Roderick Coffee III, Florida A&M
Daeshun Ruffin, Jackson State
Shannon Grant, Jackson State
TJ Madlock, Alabama State
CJ Hines, Alabama State (MVP)
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.
Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.
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