Mar 1, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs guard Josh Hubbard (12) and ahead Cameron Matthews (4) have fun in the course of the second half in opposition to the LSU Tigers at Humphrey Coliseum. Necessary Credit score: Wesley Hale-Imagn Pictures No. 25 Mississippi State will get one other probability to construct momentum for the postseason when it closes its house schedule in opposition to struggling Texas in a key late-season Southeastern Convention recreation Tuesday in Starkville, Miss.
The Bulldogs (20-9, 8-8 SEC) snapped a two-game dropping streak with an 81-69 house win over LSU on Saturday. Josh Hubbard scored 30 factors and Riley Kugel added 12 as Mississippi State outscored LSU by 14 factors after halftime and bounced again from a 38-point drubbing at then-No. 6 Alabama on Feb. 25.
“It was as massive a recreation as we have had all 12 months lengthy,” Mississippi State coach Chris Jans stated after the win over LSU. “I put some added stress on (the group) as a result of I needed them to really feel that method. I needed them to really feel prefer it was a must-win, as a result of I felt prefer it was.
“For quite a lot of completely different causes, I needed to see how they’d act in that pressurized scenario — hoping that we’re in these sorts of video games right here shortly.”
Mississippi State shot 64 p.c from the ground within the second half and clinched its third consecutive 20-win season.
Saturday was Hubbard’s twenty fourth 20-point recreation of his profession, wherein the sophomore has began 43 straight video games.
“Being a whole participant is what I labored on within the offseason,” Hubbard stated. “Simply getting downhill, being aggressive, placing some stress on the protection.”
The Bulldogs’ closing two video games are in opposition to squads not ranked within the High 25. Three of Mississippi State’s wins in league play have come versus ranked groups.
The sport has added significance for the Longhorns (16-13, 5-11), who seemingly have to win Tuesday in Starkville and Saturday versus Oklahoma at house in its regular-season finale to be thought of for an NCAA Event at-large bid.
Texas has put itself on this place by dropping six of its final seven contests, together with the final three to unranked South Carolina, Arkansas and Georgia. The Longhorns appeared utterly uninspired Saturday in an 83-67 house setback to Georgia, falling behind by 27 factors six minutes into the second half and by no means making a critical run.
“We did not get the sort of begin we needed to get off to, particularly from an offensive standpoint,” Texas coach Rodney Terry stated. “I really feel like we let that dictate somewhat little bit of our defensive effort to begin the ballgame.”
Arthur Kaluma led the Longhorns with 15 factors whereas reserve Jayson Kent added 14 and Jordan Pope had 10. Tre Johnson, the SEC’s main scorer at 20.6 factors per recreation, was restricted to 12 factors and did not try a shot from the ground after halftime.
“We will not be having these first-half lapses after which determine to show it up within the second half,” Texas ahead Devon Pryor stated. “We have to simply begin the sport off sturdy each time.”
Texas has gained 5 of its eight conferences with the Bulldogs, which features a 69-55 win of their final matchup November 21, 2012, within the Maui Invitational.
–Area Stage Media
