TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Interstat) — A surging Florida A&M squad will look to continue its climb in the SWAC standings when it hosts a Jackson State team seeking to rebound from a lopsided loss on Monday night at the Alfred Lawson, Jr. Multipurpose Center. The Rattlers (8-9, 5-1 SWAC) have won five of their last six games, most recently a 66-58 defensive victory over Alcorn State on Saturday. Forward Miles Ndalama has been a key contributor during the run, averaging 9.5 points and providing rim protection. He scored 17 points and blocked three shots in the win over Alcorn State. They will face a Jackson State Tigers team (5-14, 4-2) coming off a difficult 85-48 road defeat at Bethune-Cookman. The Tigers’ fortunes rest heavily on the dynamic play of guard Daeshun Ruffin, who is in the midst of a spectacular individual stretch. Over his last seven games, Ruffin is averaging 27.3 points and 8.1 assists, including a 39-point, 10-assist effort at Alabama A&M and a 22-point, 16-assist performance in a win over Texas Southern. Jackson State has shown it can be potent, averaging 82.2 points in its four conference wins, but consistency has been an issue. The Tigers’ 48-point outing on Saturday was a season low. Florida A&M has found success with a more balanced and disciplined approach, holding SWAC opponents to an average of 64.2 points during its 5-1 start in league play. The matchup between Ruffin’s high-volume creation and the Rattlers’ structured defense will be pivotal. Monday’s contest is the first of two regular-season meetings between the schools. They will meet again in Jackson, Mississippi, on Feb. 14. The game tips off at 8 p.m. EST as part of a full SWAC slate.