Men's Basketball 1/2/2026 7:49:00 AM

JACOBS FEELING BETTER ABOUT HIS TEAM AS TOUGALOO INVADES ASHBY AUDITORIUM

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Oakwood University men's basketball coach Simon Jacob is feeling a little better about his team.

The Ambassadors, who opened the season 1-6, have split their last six games and appears to have figured some things out.

"We've defined some roles and our guys have bought into those roles and we've played better as a result of that," Jacob said. "Hopefully, we can keep it going."

Oakwood, 4-9 overall and 2-2 in HBCU Athletic Conference play, will host Tougaloo University Saturday night in a non-conference game inside Ashby Auditorium. Tipoff is 8.

It will be the Ambassadors' first game since beating Fisk University back on Dec. 13. The three-week layoff has Jacob a little concerned.

"Hopefully, we won't be too rusty," he said.

The Ambassadors are one of three teams – Voorhees and Wilberforce are the other two – that stand at 2-2 in league play. Stillman College leads the East Division at 4-0, followed by Talladega College at 3-1.

Oakwood has been led by Jordan Bell, Joshua Barnett and Jason Griffin.

Bell is averaging a team-high 21 points and six rebounds per game. Barnett is pouring in 11.9 points, while Griffin, who has appeared in four games since becoming eligible, is averaging 11 points per game. He is also a perfect 13-of-13 from the free throw line.

The Ambassadors will Jordan Green, who was ineligible the first semester, back Saturday night.

A 6-foot-5 junior forward from Columbus, OH, Green appeared in 14 games last season and averaged 9.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He shot 56.8 percent from the field, including 41.14 percent from 3-point range.

"He gives us another scorer that we can use to spread the floor," Jacob said. "That will open up some things for some other players."

Saturday's contest begins a four-game home stand for Oakwood. After Tougaloo, the Ambassadors host Rust College on Jan. 8, Talladega College on Jan. 15 and Voorhees College on Jan. 17.

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Players Mentioned

#2 Jordan Bell: PF; 6' 6"; Senior

#5 Joshua Barnett: PG; 6' 6"; Sophomore

#14 Jason Griffin: F; 6' 5"; Junior

#23 Jordan Green: F; 6' 5"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#2 Jordan Bell
: 6' 6"; Senior
: PF

#5 Joshua Barnett
: 6' 6"; Sophomore
: PG

#14 Jason Griffin
: 6' 5"; Junior
: F

#23 Jordan Green
: 6' 5"; Junior
: F