Five Things To Know No. 21 MSU-Southern

Sunday, December 3

Starkville

3:00 PM

Mississippi State

Southern

Tickets

STARKVILLE, MS - November 24, 2023 - Mississippi State Center Gai Chol (#34) during the game between the Nicholls Colonels and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, MS. Photo By Mike Mattina

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Five Things To Know No. 21 MSU-Southern

December 01, 2023 | Men's Basketball

Buy Tickets Fan Gameday Info WATCH: MSU vs. Southern LISTEN: Hail State On-Demand Live Stats Game Notes (PDF)Game Program

by Matt Dunaway, Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – No. 21 Mississippi State men's basketball will look to bounce back and return to the win column when the Bulldogs play host to Southern for a nationally-televised Sunday afternoon tilt at Humphrey Coliseum.

The Bulldogs (6-1, 0-0 SEC) were handed a 67-59 road defeat by Georgia Tech during the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge earlier this week. State boasts a No. 21 and a No. 22 national ranking by the Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches Top 25, respectively, also released earlier this week.

Once again, the Maroon and White features a suffocating defense under second-year coach Chris Jans after being one of two teams to rank inside the nation's top 25 in scoring defense, opponent field goal percentage defense and steals in 2022-23.

This season, the Bulldogs are among the top 15 in opponent field goal percentage (35.8 – 7th), scoring defense (60.3 – 13th) and three-point field goal percentage defense (25.0 – 8th). The Bulldogs also hold nationally top 30 marks from KenPom.com in defensive efficiency (89.5 – 2nd), effective field goal percentage defense (40.6 – 5th), two-point field goal percentage defense (42.4 – 19th) and opponent offensive rebounding percentage (23.8 – 30th).

State's offense has drained 55 three-pointers which is third-most in program history over the team's first seven games. Josh Hubbard and Trey Fort have done the heavy lifting and combined for 30 of the team's 55 treys (54.5 percent).

Southern (1-6, 0-0 SWAC) has already played Power 6 road games versus TCU (Big 12), Arizona (PAC-12), Illinois (Big Ten) and Marquette (BIG EAST). Tai'Reon Joseph (17.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.4 SPG) is the team's top scorer and has ripped off double figures in all seven games this season, while Jordan Johnson (6.0 PPG, 1.1 RPG) is coming off a 21-point effort at Marquette last time out.

SERIES HISTORY
The only previous meeting between the two schools and the hardwood came during the 2015-16 where Southern emerged with a 76-72 decision. Overall, State has posted a 38-4 record against the SWAC's current members.

The Matchup: No. 21 Mississippi State (6-1, 0-0 SEC) vs. Southern (1-6, 0-0 SWAC)
Where: Starkville, Mississippi – Humphrey Coliseum
When: Sunday, December 3, 3:00 p.m. CT
Live Stats: StatBroadcast (https://hailst.at/3FuBnFO)

TV: SEC Network (Cable Subscription Required)
App: ESPN App (https://hailst.at/3SseeM4)
Channels: Ch. 611 (DirecTV); Ch. 404/408 (Dish); Ch. 1026 (MaxxSouth); Ch. 220 (C-Spire)
Talent: Mike Morgan, Pat Bradley

Radio: Mississippi State Sports Network – Powered by Learfield
Talent: Neil Price, Richard Williams
Affiliates: WZLA-FM 96.1 Starkville/West Point
Free Online Audio: Hail State App (https://hailst.at/MBKListen); The Varsity Network App

5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE
1. Chris Jans, one of the nation's premier bench bosses, leads State's program. He is assisted by James Miller, David Anwar and George Brooks. The Iowa native is one of 10 SEC coaches to amass at least 21 victories and secure a NCAA Tournament berth during their first season in league history.

Jans, a three-time WAC Coach of the Year during his tenure at New Mexico State, owns an impressive .746 winning percentage (170-58) in his eighth season as a NCAA Division I head coach. He is fifth among NCAA active coaches with a .746 winning percentage behind only Mark Few (Gonzaga), Bill Self (Kansas), Brian Dutcher (San Diego State) and John Calipari (Kentucky).

As a junior college head coach, Jans won the 1997-98 NJCAA Division II National Championship at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He also played a vital role as an assistant coach at Wichita State which was headed by a 2013 NCAA Final Four run, five NCAA Tournament trips and four Missouri Valley Conference regular season crowns.

2. The Maroon and White are among the nation's leaders returning 80.9 percent of its points, 72.4 percent of its rebounds, 83.8 percent of its assists, 83.6 percent of its steals and 75.2 percent of its blocks from last season.

Through seven games, State has showcased its depth with its newcomers, who have amassed 50.8 percent of the team's points (261-of-514). In fact, three of the team's top five scorers are newcomers in Jimmy Bell Jr., Trey Fort and Josh Hubbard.

3. Tolu Smith, Shakeel Moore, D.J. Jeffries, Dashawn Davis and Cameron Matthews combined for 85.3 percent of the team's starts (145-of-170) from last season.

Smith has been showered with numerous preseason accolades headed by the Karl Malone and Naismith Trophy Watch Lists. He also was a consensus 2022-23 All-SEC First-Team pick and a consensus 2023-24 All-SEC Preseason First-Team selection joined by Texas A&M's Wade Taylor IV. Smith has racked up 1,210 points and 679 rebounds and has started 84 of 85 games at State. He is joined by Purdue's Zach Edey as the only returning college players in 2023-24 to average at least 15.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and shoot 55-plus percent from the floor last season. Smith is slated to return during SEC action.

Moore (6.0 PPG, 1.0 APG) has registered 27 of his 32 career games with 10-plus points while at Mississippi State. He has notched a season's best eight points on three occasions, the last coming versus Northwestern (11/19). Defensively, Moore has accounted for multiple steals in 45 of 96 career games. His 145 career steals are seventh among SEC active players, while his 1.7 steals per game were 10th on the SEC leaderboard in 2022-23.

Jeffries (5.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.1 SPG) has found his way into State's starting five in 72 of 75 career games. He eclipsed 600 career rebounds against UT Martin (11/11) and followed that up by surpassing 1,100 career points versus Washington State (11/18) to start the Hall of Fame Tipoff Tournament. Last time out, Jeffries secured a season-high 10 points coupled with six rebounds and two steals at Georgia Tech (11/28).

Davis (9.0 PPG, 2.9 APG, 1.4 SPG) rated among the SEC's top 10 in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.95 – 6th), steals (1.68 – 9th) and assists (3.52 – 10th) last season. Three of his top four scoring performances have come away from Humphrey Coliseum headed by 18 points against Utah in the Fort Myers Tipoff Championship Game and a SEC season-high 17 points during a signature road win at Arkansas. He posted 11.5 points, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals in two games en route to Hall of Fame Tipoff All-Tournament Team.

Matthews (8.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.1 SPG) was joined by Davis and Moore in 2022-23 as the first trio in program history to accumulate 50-plus steals during the same season. He showcased his versality as one of eight Power 5 players to dial up at least 6.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game last season. This season, Matthews has posted a trio of 10-plus scoring efforts and grabbed at least five rebounds in six of seven outings.

4. The Bulldogs have brought in an impressive group of newcomers which include Jimmy Bell Jr. (West Virginia), Trey Fort (Howard College), Jaquan Scott (Salt Lake Community College) and Andrew Taylor (Marshall) from the transition portal and junior college ranks.

Bell Jr. (9.4 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 1.3 BPG) has started 41 straight games over the last two seasons and was a key member of West Virginia's 2022-23 NCAA Tournament squad. He has already notched four of his 11 career outings of 10-plus points this season. Bell Jr. ripped off 14 points and a career-high 14 rebounds during the North Alabama game (11/14). His 10.0 rebounds per contest holds the top spot on the SEC leaderboard.

Fort (7.3 PPG), one of the nation's top junior college recruits, was a NJCAA All-America Second-Team honoree last season. His 24.9 points per game was fourth among junior college players. Fort has notched double figures two times highlighted by a 21-point explosion versus Arizona State (11/08) on opening night. The 21 points are the most scored by a MSU player during a season opener since Tyson Carter secured 23 points against Florida International in 2019-20.

Scott (2.0 PPG, 1.7 RPG) posted 16.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game at Salt Lake CC last season, and his team was the 2021-22 NJCAA Runner-Up. He secured nine points and nine rebounds versus Southern Miss in the charity exhibition game. Scott's best regular season outing was four points against Nicholls (11/24).

Taylor (3.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.5 APG) was dubbed a SEC Impact transfer by CBS' Jon Rothstein. His 1,621 career points are second among SEC active players. Last season, Taylor joined by St. John's Shamorie Ponds in 2017-18 as the only college players over the last decade to average at least 20.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He tallied a season's best nine points versus North Alabama (11/14).

5. Mississippi State's talented freshmen class features Harrison Alexander, Gai Chol, Josh Hubbard and Adrian Myers. The Bulldogs also bring back Shawn Jones Jr., KeShawn Murphy and Martavious Russell who will look to build on their freshmen campaigns.

Hubbard (16.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 1.7 APG), the SEC Freshmen of the Week for 11/20 and an ESPN top 100 recruit for the Class of 2023, capped his high school career as the state of Mississippi's all-time leading scorer with 4,367 career points which broke a record that stood for 37 years previously held by Mississippi State's Robert Woodard.

Hubbard has piled up 114 points through his first seven games which is 4th-most for a MSU freshman and the most since Rickey Brown (1976-77). His 16.3 points per game are 10th in the SEC. Hubbard delivered a signature performance with 29 points versus Northwestern (11/19), the most for a MSU player under Coach Jans. It also marked the most for a State player off the bench since Tony Watts also scored 29 points at Ole Miss in 1989-90.

Hubbard has ripped off double figures in six straight games which also included a 22-point effort against UT Martin (11/11) in his Humprey Coliseum debut. He is the third freshmen joining Brad Smith (1989-90) and Barry Stewart (2006-07) as the only State players to produce two 20+ point performances off the bench over the last 30-plus seasons.

Jones Jr. (5.6 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.7 SPG) wrapped up the 2022-23 campaign on a strong note with seven of his top 10 scoring efforts coming against SEC opponents. He has carried that momentum into the start of the 2023-24 campaign with a trio of 8-point efforts versus Arizona State (11/08), UT Martin (11/11) and Washington State (11/18). Jones Jr. also set a new career-mark with three steals and tied a career-best with two blocks in the UT Martin game.

Chol (3.7 PPG, 2.0 RPG), a native of South Sudan, took advantage of extended minutes with 11 points and six rebounds against UT Martin (11/11). He was 3-of-4 from the floor and a flawless 5-for-5 at the foul line. Chol also tallied five points versus Nicholls (11/24).

Mississippi State is selling single game tickets and $96 mini plans for the 2023-24 campaign. Visit www.HailState.com/Tickets for more information.

Humphrey Coliseum will become one of the nation's premier arenas as major renovations continue ahead of the upcoming season. If interested in making contributions to Humphrey Coliseum, please contact the Bulldog Club at (662) 325-3074.

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its official social media accounts by searching 'HailStateMBK' on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

– HailState.com –