Final Piece of 2021-22 Non-Conference Schedule
July 29, 2021 | Men's Basketball
by Matt Dunaway, Associate Director/Communications
FORT WORTH, Texas – The final piece of Mississippi State's non-conference schedule has been revealed.
After securing a 2021 NIT Runner-Up finish, the Bulldogs will return to the Lone Star state for a neutral site matchup against Colorado State at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday, December 11th as part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic hosted by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Tip time and television network assignment will be released at a later date. Other games scheduled for the one-day tripleheader include North Texas and Massachusetts along with Stephen F. Austin and Liberty.
"We're excited about the opportunity to play Colorado State," head coach Ben Howland said. "It will be a very competitive, tough game. They're well-coached, extremely talented and return a majority of their team that went to the NIT Final Four last year. We're looking forward to playing in an event that benefits the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, which I think is really important."
The Rams have tucked away consecutive 20-win campaigns under fourth-year coach Niko Medved. Colorado State defeated Buffalo and North Carolina State before falling to Memphis during last season's NIT Final Four. The Rams are slated to return their top six scorers from last season headed by David Roddy (15.9 PPG), Isaiah Stevens (15.3 PPG) and Kendle Moore (10.5 PPG).
Mississippi State's non-conference schedule features seven teams that finished inside the top 85 of the 2020-21 NCAA NET rankings. The Bulldogs also will square off with six teams who tucked away top three finishes in their respective conferences last season.
The Mississippi State Athletic Ticket Office is selling 2021-22 season tickets. New season ticket purchasers can call (662) 325-2600, (888) Go Dawgs (888-463-2947) or visit www.HailState.com for more information. Current season ticket holders have received their renewal notice and have until July 30 to renew through MSU's Athletic Ticket Office.
Mississippi State has landed a quartet of impact transfers in Garrison Brooks (North Carolina), D.J. Jeffries (Memphis), Rocket Watts (Michigan State) and Shakeel Moore (North Carolina State), coupled with a solid freshmen class which features ESPN top 100 recruit KeShawn Murphy, Alden Applewhite and Cam Carter.
The Bulldogs also return two of their top three scorers in Iverson Molinar and Tolu Smith from 2020-21. Molinar ranked among the SEC's top 10 in points per game (16.7 – 4th), field goal percentage (47.8 – 5th) and 20-plus point games (8 – T-7th), while Smith was the SEC leader in rebounds per game (8.5) and double-doubles (8) last season.
Mississippi State captured a runner-up finish at the 2021 NIT as the Bulldogs earned a bid in postseason play for the third consecutive time when postseason tournament have been played. State won seven of its last 10 games, highlighted by a combined five NCAA NET Quad 1 and Quad 2 victories down the stretch.
Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets by searching 'HailStateMBK' on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
2021-22 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
Day. Date, Opponent
Wednesday, November 10, North Alabama
Saturday, November 13, Montana
Wednesday, November 17, Detroit Mercy
Sunday, November 21, Morehead State
Thursday, November 25, vs. Louisville [1]
Saturday, November 27, vs. Maryland/Richmond [1]
Thursday, December 2, Lamar
Sunday, December 5, Minnesota
Saturday, December 11, vs. Colorado State [2]
Tuesday, December 14, Georgia State
Friday, December 17, Furman
Tuesday, December 21, Winthrop [3]
Saturday, January 29, at Texas Tech [4]
[1] Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship [Nassau, The Bahamas]
[2] Basketball Hall of Fame Classic [Fort Worth, Texas]
[3] Game played at Mississippi Coliseum [Jackson, Mississippi]
[4] Big 12/SEC Challenge [Lubbock, Texas]
FORT WORTH, Texas – The final piece of Mississippi State's non-conference schedule has been revealed.
After securing a 2021 NIT Runner-Up finish, the Bulldogs will return to the Lone Star state for a neutral site matchup against Colorado State at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday, December 11th as part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic hosted by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Tip time and television network assignment will be released at a later date. Other games scheduled for the one-day tripleheader include North Texas and Massachusetts along with Stephen F. Austin and Liberty.
"We're excited about the opportunity to play Colorado State," head coach Ben Howland said. "It will be a very competitive, tough game. They're well-coached, extremely talented and return a majority of their team that went to the NIT Final Four last year. We're looking forward to playing in an event that benefits the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, which I think is really important."
The Rams have tucked away consecutive 20-win campaigns under fourth-year coach Niko Medved. Colorado State defeated Buffalo and North Carolina State before falling to Memphis during last season's NIT Final Four. The Rams are slated to return their top six scorers from last season headed by David Roddy (15.9 PPG), Isaiah Stevens (15.3 PPG) and Kendle Moore (10.5 PPG).
Mississippi State's non-conference schedule features seven teams that finished inside the top 85 of the 2020-21 NCAA NET rankings. The Bulldogs also will square off with six teams who tucked away top three finishes in their respective conferences last season.
The Mississippi State Athletic Ticket Office is selling 2021-22 season tickets. New season ticket purchasers can call (662) 325-2600, (888) Go Dawgs (888-463-2947) or visit www.HailState.com for more information. Current season ticket holders have received their renewal notice and have until July 30 to renew through MSU's Athletic Ticket Office.
Mississippi State has landed a quartet of impact transfers in Garrison Brooks (North Carolina), D.J. Jeffries (Memphis), Rocket Watts (Michigan State) and Shakeel Moore (North Carolina State), coupled with a solid freshmen class which features ESPN top 100 recruit KeShawn Murphy, Alden Applewhite and Cam Carter.
The Bulldogs also return two of their top three scorers in Iverson Molinar and Tolu Smith from 2020-21. Molinar ranked among the SEC's top 10 in points per game (16.7 – 4th), field goal percentage (47.8 – 5th) and 20-plus point games (8 – T-7th), while Smith was the SEC leader in rebounds per game (8.5) and double-doubles (8) last season.
Mississippi State captured a runner-up finish at the 2021 NIT as the Bulldogs earned a bid in postseason play for the third consecutive time when postseason tournament have been played. State won seven of its last 10 games, highlighted by a combined five NCAA NET Quad 1 and Quad 2 victories down the stretch.
Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets by searching 'HailStateMBK' on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
2021-22 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
Day. Date, Opponent
Wednesday, November 10, North Alabama
Saturday, November 13, Montana
Wednesday, November 17, Detroit Mercy
Sunday, November 21, Morehead State
Thursday, November 25, vs. Louisville [1]
Saturday, November 27, vs. Maryland/Richmond [1]
Thursday, December 2, Lamar
Sunday, December 5, Minnesota
Saturday, December 11, vs. Colorado State [2]
Tuesday, December 14, Georgia State
Friday, December 17, Furman
Tuesday, December 21, Winthrop [3]
Saturday, January 29, at Texas Tech [4]
[1] Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship [Nassau, The Bahamas]
[2] Basketball Hall of Fame Classic [Fort Worth, Texas]
[3] Game played at Mississippi Coliseum [Jackson, Mississippi]
[4] Big 12/SEC Challenge [Lubbock, Texas]
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballJosh Hubbard - "I'm Back"
Friday, April 17
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Chris Jans & Players SEC Tournament Postgame vs. Auburn - 3/11/26
Thursday, March 12
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Chris Jans Media Session - 3/9/26
Monday, March 09
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Josh Hubbard & Ja'Borri McGhee Postgame Press Conference vs. Georgia - 3/7/26
Sunday, March 08