Wednesday, December 28
Starkville
8:00 PM
Mississippi State
11-2,0-1SEC
67
vs
78
#8 Alabama
11-2,1-0SEC
1
2
F
Alabama
34
44
78
Mississippi St.
30
37
67
Photo by: Mike Mattina/MSU Athletics
No. 21 MSU Falls to No. 8 Alabama
December 28, 2022 | Men's Basketball
D.J. Jeffries picks up his first double-double of the season in loss
STARKVILLE – The No. 21 Mississippi State Bulldogs came up short against No. 8 Alabama on Wednesday night to open Southeastern Conference play in front of a sellout crowd of 9,803 at Humphrey Coliseum. MSU fell 78-67 to Alabama.
The Bulldogs shot 36 percent from the floor in the game and shot 31 percent in the first half. The Maroon and White tied a season-high with nine made three-pointers in the contest.
"We were the aggressors in the first half," remarked head coach Chris Jans. "We were trying to get paint touches, and it was a very physical game at the rim on both ends. Alabama has great length, and we struggled to finish around the basket. It became frustrating, but it happens. We are supposed to be a defensive team, and we must rely on that when we struggle on the offensive end."
D.J. Jeffries and KeShawn Murphy led the Dawgs with 11 points each, while Will McNair Jr. rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10. Jeffries set a career-high with 15 rebounds in the contest for his first double-double of the season and the third of his career.
The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide were in a battle over the first 20 minutes of the game. With Alabama ahead 20-14, the Dawgs hit one of their seven threes in the first half as Eric Reed Jr. made a three on a fast break.
The Crimson Tide took an eight-point lead before Keshawn Murphy hit back-to-back threes for the Maroon and White putting the Dawgs down three, 30-27. After the lead was extended back to seven, 34-27, a three by DJ Jeffries nailed another Dawgs three at the buzzer, putting MSU down four at the half, 34-30.
Jeffries opened the second half by knocking down his second three of the game. However, after the three, the Dawgs shooting started to cool off, and the Crimson Tide extended their lead to double-figures. The lead grew to as many as 13 in the second half for Alabama before the Dawgs made a run and had the lead down to seven, 55-48, after a jumper by Shakeel Moore. However, the Dawgs would not get closer than seven the rest of the game and would fall to No. 8 Alabama, 78-67.
MSU returns to the court at 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 3, when they travel to Knoxville, Tenn., when they square off with Tennessee in a Southeastern Conference matchup.
The Bulldogs shot 36 percent from the floor in the game and shot 31 percent in the first half. The Maroon and White tied a season-high with nine made three-pointers in the contest.
"We were the aggressors in the first half," remarked head coach Chris Jans. "We were trying to get paint touches, and it was a very physical game at the rim on both ends. Alabama has great length, and we struggled to finish around the basket. It became frustrating, but it happens. We are supposed to be a defensive team, and we must rely on that when we struggle on the offensive end."
D.J. Jeffries and KeShawn Murphy led the Dawgs with 11 points each, while Will McNair Jr. rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10. Jeffries set a career-high with 15 rebounds in the contest for his first double-double of the season and the third of his career.
The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide were in a battle over the first 20 minutes of the game. With Alabama ahead 20-14, the Dawgs hit one of their seven threes in the first half as Eric Reed Jr. made a three on a fast break.
The Crimson Tide took an eight-point lead before Keshawn Murphy hit back-to-back threes for the Maroon and White putting the Dawgs down three, 30-27. After the lead was extended back to seven, 34-27, a three by DJ Jeffries nailed another Dawgs three at the buzzer, putting MSU down four at the half, 34-30.
Jeffries opened the second half by knocking down his second three of the game. However, after the three, the Dawgs shooting started to cool off, and the Crimson Tide extended their lead to double-figures. The lead grew to as many as 13 in the second half for Alabama before the Dawgs made a run and had the lead down to seven, 55-48, after a jumper by Shakeel Moore. However, the Dawgs would not get closer than seven the rest of the game and would fall to No. 8 Alabama, 78-67.
MSU returns to the court at 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 3, when they travel to Knoxville, Tenn., when they square off with Tennessee in a Southeastern Conference matchup.
Team Stats
Bama
MSU
FG%
.456
.364
3FG%
.375
.375
FT%
.778
.500
RB
41
38
TO
19
15
STL
6
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
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