Postgame Notes: MSU vs. Bethune-Cookman

TEAM NOTES

Mississippi State wins its fifth consecutive outing in dominating fashion to close out the non-conference slate by defeating Bethune Cookman, 85-62, to improve to 11-2 on the season.
With Coach Jans at the helm, the Bulldogs have won 23 of 27 games versus non-conference opponents. The Maroon and White have posted 17 of the 23 wins by 10+ points.
In 94 halves over two seasons under Coach Jans, State has allowed 30 points or fewer on 51 occasions (54.3 percent) and limited the opposition to under a 35 percent shooting clip 31 times (33.0 percent).
The Bulldogs have won 9 of their 10 games this season and moved to 26-4 overall under Coach Jans when leading at the half.
State moves to 17-5 at home under Coach Jans, and he improved to 84-16 during home games over his eight-year coaching career.
The Bulldogs came away with a season's best 15 steals. The 15 steals are the most for a State team under Coach Jans and also equals the most steals recorded by a team led by Coach Jans.
Mississippi State has registered 10-plus steals in five outings this season and on 17 occasions in two seasons under Coach Jans.
The Bulldogs improved to 2-0 versus Bethune Cookman with the previous meeting occurring during the 2009-10 season.
State drained 27-of-51 from the floor (52.9 percent), sank 12-of-27 from three-point territory (44.4 percent) and hit on 19-of-24 at the charity stripe (79.2 percent).
For the season, State has connected on 103 three-pointers which ranks fourth-highest in program history through 13 games.
The Bulldogs have canned 10+ treys four times this season and had four players sink multiple three-pointers during today's game.
State edged out Bethune-Cookman, 34-33, on the glass and has won the rebounding battle in 12 of 13 games this season.
State outscored the Wildcats, 46-13, in bench points and has outscored its opponents in 11 of 13 outings this season. In those 11 aforementioned contests, the Bulldogs outscored their opponents by a 401-153 margin.
Conversely, Bethune Cookman turned in a 27-for-64 shooting effort (42.2 percent), was 4-for-16 on its three-pointers (25.0 percent) and produced a 4-for-10 clip from the free throw line (40.0 percent).

PLAYER NOTES

Jimmy Bell Jr.

Started his 47th consecutive game over the last two seasons between Mississippi State and West Virginia. Overall, Bell Jr. has started in 111 of 128 career games.
Collected 6 points and 7 rebounds.
Marked his 10th outing this season and 34th career outing with 5+ rebounds.
All six points came at the free throw line. Marked his 4th game in 2023-24 and 8th career performance where he's made 5-plus foul shots.

Dashawn Davis

Started 41 consecutive games and 42 of 44 games at State that he's played in.
Tucked away 12 points, 2 assists and a steal.
Registered 10+ points for the 6th time this season and 32nd time of his career.
Was 5-of-8 from the field and drained a pair of three-pointers.
Recorded his 4th game this season and 14th career performance with multiple three's.
Came away with 20 of his 27 steals (74.0 percent) during the last seven games.

D.J. Jeffries

Started 78 of 81 career games at State.
Chipped in 9 points and 3 assists.
Distributed 3+ assists for 6th time this season and the 33rd time of his career.
During State's five-game winning streak, Jeffries has piled up a solid +100 plus-minus ratio.

Cameron Matthews

Started 46 of the team's 47 games over the last two seasons.
Tacked on 2 points, 6 assists, 6 steals and 2 rebounds.
Registered his 3rd game of 2023-24 and his 5th career game with 5+ steals.
Marked his 4th outing of this and 9th career outing with 5+ dimes.
State is 8-1 and 5-0, respectively, when Matthews has 5+ assists and 5+ steals.
The 6 steals vaults Matthews into 10th place on the program's all-time list and gives him 152 for his career.
Matthews surpassed Winsome Frazier (2002-03-04-05) and I.J. Ready (2014-15-16-17) during today's game on the steals list.
Finished with a team-leading +19 plus-minus rating.

Shakeel Moore

Earned the nod in the starting five for the 5th straight game, all State victories.
Has made 49 of his 51 career starts at State.
Fired in 10 points, 2 assists and a steal.
Registered 10+ points in 4 of his last 5 outings and totaled his 36th career performance in double figures.
Amassed 31 of his 36 career games with 10+ points while at Mississippi State.
Mississippi State and NC State are a combined 26-10 when he scores 10+ points.
His lone steal gives him 116 for his career and places him in a two-way 20th place tie with Jeff Norwood (1982-83-84-85-86) and Chauncey Robinson (1983-84-85-86)
The steal allowed him to pass Greg Carter (1988-89-90-91) during today's game.

Bench

Tolu Smith III made his season debut and finished with a team-leading 16 points and hauled down nine rebounds.
Went a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor and hit on 6-of-7 on his free throw attempts.
The 16 points gives Smith III 1,226 career points and moves him into 27th on the program's all-time list.
Eclipsed Dave Williams (1966-67-68) and Leland Mitchell (1961-62-63) on the scoring list during today's game.
Secured double figures in 66 of his 86 games at State
Finished the contest with a plus-minus rating of +18.
Marked his 29th career game with 5+ free throws made.
Josh Hubbard posted 11 points, a career-high 3 steals and added 2 assists.
Registered double digit points in 11 of 13 outings this season.
Notched 189 total points which is 5th-most for a freshman in program history through 13 games and the most since Rickey Brown (1976-77).
Registered 36 of his 58 field goals from beyond the arc (62.1 percent).
Recorded 2+ threes for the 11th outing, marked his 7th effort with multiple assists and tallied multiple steals for the 2nd time this season.
Like Smith III, finished with a plus-minus rating of +18, which led State's bench players.
Trey Fort managed 9 points, all on three-pointers.
Marked his 3rd game this season and the 4th time of his career with 2+ three-pointers.
Shawn Jones Jr. finished with 6 points, matched a season-high with 4 rebounds and provided 2 steals.
Recorded 2+ steals for 2nd time this season and 6th time of his career.
Marked his 2nd outing of the season with 2+ threes made and the 5th outing of his career.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Postgame Notes: MSU vs. Bethune-Cookman

Players Mentioned

Jimmy Bell Jr.

Dashawn Davis

Trey Fort

Josh Hubbard

D.J. Jeffries

Shawn Jones Jr.

Cameron Matthews

Shakeel Moore

Tolu Smith III

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