Postgame Notes: MSU vs. UAPB

MBK - Team Photo - Arkansas Pine BluffMBK - Team Photo - Arkansas Pine Bluff

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

November 13, 2022 | Men's Basketball

TEAM NOTES

Mississippi State rode a complete team effort en route to their largest margin of victory on the young season as 10 players contributed five points or more during an 80-47 dismantling of Arkansas – Pine Bluff on Sunday at the Humphrey Coliseum.
The win marked the program's 500th victory at The Hump and enabled the Bulldogs to move to 3-0 for the fifth time over the last six seasons since 2017-18.
Chris Jans became the 10th head coach in program history to win his opening three games. Most recently, Jans is joined on the list by Kermit Davis Sr. (1970-71, 4-0), Jim Hatfield (1978-79, 8-0), Richard Williams (1986-87, 3-0) and Rick Stansbury (1998-99, 8-0).
After the Golden Lions cut State's early lead down to three at 17-14 with the 11:02 mark of the first half, the Bulldogs closed the opening stanza with a 24-5 spurt. State found themselves with a 41-19 advantage.
During the aforementioned run, the Bulldogs limited their opponents to just one field goal which included 10 straight missed field goals and close to a 10-minute stretch without a bucket from the floor.
As a team, the Bulldogs connected on 29-of-62 from the floor (46.8 percent), 7-of-26 from three-point range (26.9 percent) and 15-of-19 from the free throw line (78.9 percent).
Defensively, State limited UAPB to an 18-for-61 shooting clip (29.5 percent), 6-for-29 from beyond the three-point line (20.7 percent) and a 5-for-7 mark at the charity stripe (71.4 percent).
The Bulldogs continue to dominate games during the second half. Over the course of the season, the Maroon and White have outscored their opponents 115-69 and limited the opposition to a 26-for-85 shooting clip (30.6 percent).
Efficiency was key in the Bulldogs' first half. State committed only one turnover, while forcing nine from Arkansas – Pine Bluff highlighted by eight steals.
MSU's bench was in full form during the contest and accounted for 47 of the team's 80 points. The last time State's bench accomplished the feat was a 50-point outburst versus Alabama State on 11/10/2017.
State won the battle of the boards for the third straight game on the back of a 46-34 rebounding advantage. The Bulldogs have outrebounded their opponents by a +30 margin over the last two games.
Once again, MSU bodied their opponents on the interior. The Bulldogs drained 19 of their 29 shots in paint sparked by four monstrous dunks.
For the season, State has knocked down 56 of its 83 field goals inside the paint (67.5 percent) and handed out 51 assists on its 83 buckets (61.4 percent).

PLAYER NOTES

Tolu Smith

Contributed a team co-leading ten points which marked 10 consecutive games in double figures dating back to the Missouri game from a season ago on 02/20/2022.
Scored in double figures in 39 of 54 career games in Maroon and White.
Moved to within 162 points shy of reaching 1,000 for his career.
Finished one rebound shy of a double-double, while leading all players on the glass for the third consecutive game.
Chipped in three assists, a steal and a block.

D.J. Jeffries

Shared the team's top spot with 10 points to capture his second consecutive outing in double figures.
Marked his 44th career outing in double figures, MSU and Memphis are 34-10 in those games.
Closed to within 184 points of reaching 1,000 for his career.
Registered a team-best +27 over his 24 minutes on the floor.
Padded his stat line with six rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Marked his 17th career game with multiple steals.

Cameron Matthews

Pitched in eight points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
The eight points tied for his fifth-highest scoring output of his career.
Marked the 21st multi steal game and 20th game with two-plus assists for his career.

Jamel Horton Jr.

Started his second consecutive game.
Led all Bulldogs with a season's best four assists versus one turnover.

Eric Reed Jr.

Started 54 of 60 career games between MSU and Southeast Missouri.
Came down with a season-high three rebounds.

Bench

Outscored the Golden Lions 47-6 off the bench
The freshmen class of Kimani Hamilton (8 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals), Shawn Jones Jr. (6 points, two rebounds) and Martavious Russell (7 points, 2 steals) all had their best efforts on the young season.
For Russell, he scored his first career basket on a contested layup in transition with 3:23 left off of his own steal. He capped the game with posterizing and-one dunk during the game's final minute.
Shakeel Moore and Tyler Stevenson also added eight points apiece. The duo also combined for nine rebounds and two steals.
Moore has buried multiple treys on 14 occasions at MSU and 21 times for his career.
Keeping with the season's best theme, Will McNair Jr. provided high watermarks with five points and seven rebounds.
Dashawn Davis was perfect from the field for the second consecutive game. He garnered five points, an assist and a steal over five first half minutes.
KeShawn Murphy secured his first career assist and first career block.