Postgame Notes: MSU vs. Mississippi Valley State

TEAM NOTES

Mississippi State started the December portion of its schedule and comfortably took care of Mississippi Valley State, 82-52, to improve to 8-0 on the season.
The 8-0 start is the best for State since the 2017-18 season. The Bulldogs entered the weekend's action as one of three SEC teams, one of eight Power 5 schools and one of 15 NCAA programs who are undefeated.
Chris Jans is one of three coaches in their first season with a program to remain unbeaten during the 2022-23 season alongside of Maryland's Kevin Willard and Missouri's Dennis Gates.
Jans and Gates are two of seven SEC coaches to start their first season at least 8-0 in the shot clock era dating back to 1985-86. Additional active SEC coaches on that list include Kentucky's John Calipari (19-0 in 2009-10) and Arkansas' Eric Musselman (8-0 in 2019-20).
Jans became the 4th head coach in program history to win his opening eight contests. Jans is joined on the list by Jim Hatfield (1978-79, 8-0), Rick Stansbury (1998-99, 8-0) and E.C. Hayes (1911-12, 9-0, won 1st 10 games).
Mississippi State improved to 7-0 all-time against the Delta Devils. The Bulldogs average margin of victory in the seven contest is 27.7 points per game.
Ahead 13-12 at the 12:42 mark of the opening stanza, Mississippi State closed the first half with a 25-10 run and held the Delta Devils to a 4-for-19 shooting clip.
State's defense held its opponent to 55 points or less for the eighth consecutive game. The Bulldogs are the only SEC team in the shot clock era and the only team in the country to accomplish the feat this season.
The 49.6 points per game average is a program-low thru eight games going back to at least the 1955-56 season which was Babe McCarthy's first season at State.
As a team, the Bulldogs connected on 31-of-65 from the floor (47.7 percent), 6-of-19 from three-point territory (31.6 percent), and 14-of-21 from the free throw line (66.7 percent).
Conversely, Mississippi Valley State was 19-for-49 on its shot attempts (38.8 percent), drained 8-of-15 on three's (53.3 percent) and were 6-of-9 at the charity stripe (66.7 percent).
Mississippi State's 82-point output is a season-high, and the most points for the Bulldogs since scoring 88 points against Georgia on 01/12/2022.
The 44 points scored in the second-half for State was a 2022-23 season's best.
The Bulldogs connected for 25 of their 31 baskets in the paint en route to a 50-18 advantage in paint points.
State dished out a season-high 19 assists. The Bulldogs also controlled the glass for the seventh time in eight games with a 43-34 edge. The +19 margin also is a season's best.

PLAYER NOTES

Tolu Smith

Led the Bulldogs with 24 points, his second-highest total on the season.
Marked his 11th career game and second time in 2022-23 scoring 20-plus points.
Was 8-of-12 from the floor and 8-of-14 at the foul line.
The eight free throws made for Smith matched a career-high.
Scored double figures in seven of eight contests this year, and in 14 of his past 15 outings dating back to last February.
Moves to within 83 points shy of eclipsing the 1,000-point mark in his career
Led MSU in rebounding seven times and in scoring on six occasions this season.

D.J. Jeffries

Contributed 12 points, four rebounds and two assists.
Scored in double figures for the sixth time in his last seven outings and 48th time in career.
MSU is 17-5 when Jeffries scores in double figures.
MSU and Memphis is 38-10 when Jeffries scores 10-plus points.
Pulled within 138 points away from reaching the 1,000 for his career.
Distributed multiple assists in six of eight games this year.

Cameron Matthews

Added seven points, four rebounds, and three assists.
Marked the 24 multi-assist game of his career and sixth on the season.

Eric Reed Jr.

Started in 59 of 65 career games between MSU and Southeast Missouri
Secured four points, three rebounds and a season-high three steals.
Sits 178 points way from eclipsing the 1,000 career points mark

Tyler Stevenson

Made his first start as a Bulldog after he started 74 of 99 career games at Southern Miss.
Contributed five points, three rebounds (all offensive), two assists and a block.

Bench

Off the bench, MSU was led by a season-high eight points courtesy of Will McNair Jr.
McNair Jr. also co-led the Bulldogs and pulled down six rebounds.
Shawn Jones Jr. matches his season high with six points. He knocked down two treys.
Shakeel Moore scored four, while also collecting five rebounds and handing out a season's best six assists versus one turnover.
Recorded multiple steals in 35 of 66 career games and six of eight games in 2022-23.
KeShawn Murphy came away with a career-best three steals.
Kimani Hamilton and Martavious Russell chipped in five points apiece.
Jamel Horton Jr. returned to action after he missed State's last game against Omaha.
Isaac Stansbury handed out his second career assist inside the game's final minute

Postgame Notes: MSU vs. Mississippi Valley State

Players Mentioned

Kimani Hamilton

Jamel Horton Jr.

D.J. Jeffries

Shawn Jones Jr.

Cameron Matthews

Will McNair Jr.

Shakeel Moore

KeShawn Murphy

Eric Reed Jr.

Martavious Russell

Tolu Smith III

Isaac Stansbury

Tyler Stevenson

Mississippi State University Athletics

Postgame Notes: MSU vs. Mississippi Valley State

Players Mentioned

Kimani Hamilton

Jamel Horton Jr.

D.J. Jeffries

Shawn Jones Jr.

Cameron Matthews

Will McNair Jr.

Shakeel Moore

KeShawn Murphy

Eric Reed Jr.

Martavious Russell

Tolu Smith III

Isaac Stansbury

Tyler Stevenson

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