Jeffries Makes History in Victory Over Rust

HOLLY SPRING, MS. - Kaleb Jeffries delivered an unforgettable performance in the Fisk University Bulldogs' season finale, scoring a record-breaking 40 points—28 of which came in the first half—to lead Fisk University (10-17, 5-7 HBCUAC) past Rust College (8-18, 3-8 HBCUAC) 88-61 in Holly Springs, Mississippi. This historic achievement sets a new standard for Fisk freshmen and propelled the Bulldogs to fourth place in the HBCU Athletic Conference standings, with postseason play set to begin Tuesday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Fisk capped the regular season as the conference's top scoring team, averaging 80.2 points per game and on a four-game winning streak.

"Two weeks ago, we told the guys that we need to go 8-0 if we want to win conference," said Fisk head coach Jeremiah Crutcher. "We are halfway to that goal. Now it is win or go home. Rust is always a tough test, especially at their place. As far as Kaleb is concerned, he is a shot maker. He had a lot of people in the stands today, so he wanted to perform well. We have a lot of fire power on this team. I hope they will find a way to play better during the tournament."

The Bulldogs seized control early, heading into halftime with a commanding 46-26 lead. Jeffries opened the second half with a personal 8-0 run, pushing Fisk ahead by 28 points, and notched his 40th point with 9:35 remaining. Simeon Williams II and E.J. Jointer each posted double-doubles, while Kailon Benton-Hamilton contributed 11 points off the bench, rounding out a dominant team effort.

UP NEXT:

Fisk moves on to play in the HBCUAC Tournament in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.