Postgame Notes: No. 21 MSU vs. No. 8 Alabama

TEAM NOTES

In front of a sellout crowd for its SEC opener, No. 21 Mississippi State dropped a 78-67 decision to No. 8 Alabama.
The Bulldogs fall to 47-43 all-time in SEC openers. Alabama has won seven of the nine meetings as SEC openers between the two schools.
It marked the fifth ranked versus ranked matchup between State and Alabama over the 209 meetings of the series.
The Crimson Tide have won six of the last seven over State and hold a 131-78 series edge.
State forced Alabama into 19 turnovers and scored 17 of the game's 28 points off miscues.
The Bulldogs had two players register double figures for the first time this season off the bench and doubled up Alabama by a 32-16 margin.
State edged the Crimson Tide on second-chance points, 11-6. The Bulldogs have outscored their opponent in second-chance points during 10 of their 13 games this season.
As a team, the Bulldogs connected on 20-of-55 from the floor (36.4 percent), 9-of-24 from three-point territory (37.5 percent) and 18-of-36 from the free throw line (50.0 percent).
Conversely, Alabama was 26-for-57 on its shot attempts (45.6 percent), drained 12-of-32 of its triples (37.5 percent) and were 14-of-18 at the charity stripe (77.8 percent).
The nine made three-pointers for the Bulldogs equaled a season's best. State also knocked down nine treys versus Utah on 11/23

PLAYER NOTES

D.J. Jeffries

Secured his first double-double of the season, second double-double at State and third career double-double off the back of 11 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.
The 15 rebounds marked the 4th time in his career that he's hauled down 10+ rebounds.
Led State in scoring three times and in rebounding five times in 2022-23.
Notched his 51st career game in double figures where State and Memphis are a combined 40-11 in those games.
Pulled to within 90 points from reaching 1,000 for his career.
Connected on multiple treys for the 5th time this season and 22nd time in his career.
Notched 2+ steals on three occasions in 2022-23 and for the 19th time in his career.

Tolu Smith

Limited to a season-low five points coupled with six rebounds.
Only the third time in his last 20 outings where he was unable to reach double figures.
Started 63 of 64 career outings at Mississippi State.
Sits 21 points shy of reaching 1,000 career points.

Eric Reed Jr.

Scored eight points and added two boards
Started 64 of 70 career outings between MSU and Southeast Missouri.
Hit multiple three's in three of his last four games and on 41 occasions during his career.

Dashawn Davis

Added four points, four assists and two steals.
Handed out at least three assists in five consecutive games.
Started 29 of 37 career games between Oregon State and MSU.
Collected multiple steals for the 3rd time in 2022-23 and 16th time in his career.

Cameron Matthews

Bench

KeShawn Murphy and Will McNair Jr. did the heavy lifting for the Bulldogs off the bench.
Murphy posted a career-best 11 points to go along with a career-high tying two assists and a block.
Notched double figures for the second time this season and posted 7.5 points per game over his last four outings.
McNair Jr. tallied a season's best 10 points and a season-high tying seven rebounds.
Marked his first game in double figures as a Bulldog and his 11th career outing with double digit points.
After missing the last two games, Shakeel Moore dialed up six points and four assists.

Mississippi State University Athletics