Preview: Alabama State Hornets at Southern Jaguars BATON ROUGE, La. (Interstat) — A pair of SWAC teams trending in opposite directions will meet Monday night when the Southern Jaguars host the Alabama State Hornets at the Clark Activity Center. Southern (10-13) has won three of its last four games, including an 81-68 victory over Alabama A&M on Saturday. The Jaguars are led by guard Michael Jacobs, who is coming off a 15-point, 10-assist double-double and has recorded four double-doubles in points and assists in his last seven contests. Jacobs is averaging 16.1 points and 8.4 assists per game over that stretch, spearheading Southern’s offense. Alabama State (7-15) looks to halt a two-game skid after a low-output 47-57 loss at Grambling on Saturday. The Hornets’ offense runs through guard Micah Simpson, who scored 15 points in the loss. Simpson has been a consistent scorer, reaching double figures in seven of his last eight games, including a 23-point outing in a win at Prairie View on Jan. 24. The Jaguars won the first meeting this season, 84-73, at Alabama State on Jan. 3. Southern has found a rhythm lately, averaging 82 points per game during its recent 3-1 run. Alabama State has struggled with consistency, alternating wins and losses for much of January before its current losing streak. Southern’s supporting cast has stepped up, with AJ Barnes (17 points) and Terrance Dixon (18 points, 3 blocks) providing key contributions in the win over Alabama A&M. Alabama State will need more production beyond Simpson, as the team managed only 47 points on 30.2% shooting at Grambling. The game is a crucial SWAC matchup as both teams navigate the second half of the conference schedule. Southern will look to solidify its position in the upper tier, while Alabama State aims to rediscover its offensive form and climb the standings. Tip-off is set for Monday, Feb. 9, 2026.