Postgame Notes: MSU vs. South Carolina

TEAM NOTES

Mississippi State emerged with its second consecutive victory and its eighth win over its last 10 games courtesy of a 74-68 Senior Night triumph over South Carolina.
The Bulldogs protected their home floor to improve to 20-10 overall and 8-9 in SEC action.
State has won the last three, six of the last seven and 10 of the last 13 outings over the Gamecocks. The Bulldogs hold a 29-17 advantage and have won 16 of the 20 meetings between the two programs in Starkville.
State commanded the interior once again and scored 20 of its 26 buckets in the paint. The Bulldogs outscored South Carolina, 40-26, in paint points during the contest.
The Bulldogs capitalized in transition on 14 South Carolina turnovers en route to all 15 of the game's points on the fastbreak.
State's protection of the ball proved crucial, as the Bulldogs only committed an SEC season low matching 9 turnovers. State would outscore the Gamecocks, 17-8, in points off miscues.
State's 42 points in the first half was a season's best. The Bulldogs drained 17-of-30 during the opening stanza.
The two teams traded baskets in the early before South Carolina extended its advantage to 21-14 with 13:30 to go in the first half. MSU's offense would come alive soon after, going on a 9-2 run over the next 4:07 to knot the score at 23-23.
Over the final 7:08 of the half, State would outscore the Gamecocks 18-8, while not allowing a FG in the last three-plus minutes to take a 42-34 lead heading into the break.
South Carolina responded in kind, opening the second half on an 14-4 run over the first 5:08, pushing themselves back into the lead at 49-46. The Gamecocks would push the lead out to as many as 4, taking a 57-53 lead with 8:20 to play.
However, just like the first half, State closed the second half strong. The Bulldogs would score 11 of the game's next 13 points and flip the script for the final time, jumping out in front 64-59 with 4:48 to go.
South Carolina would twice cut the lead down to 3 points in the games closing minutes, but State would hold off the Gamecocks to emerge with a 74-68 victory.
As a team, the Bulldogs hit on 26-of-52 from the floor (50.0 percent), 3-of-14 from beyond the three-point line (21.4 percent) and a 19-of-24 clip from the foul line (79.2 percent).
State's 50.0 percent shooting marks their sixth time this season making half or more of their shots. State is 5-1 in games where they shoot 50+ percent from the field.
Conversely, South Carolina was 23-of-52 on its field goal attempts (44.2 percent), was 6-of-20 on its triples (30.0 percent) and 16-of-17 at the charity stripe (94.1 percent).

PLAYER NOTES

Tolu Smith

Provided 16 points, 12 of which came in an explosive first half.
Added six rebounds and three assists to round out his stat line.
Extended his streak to 14 straight games in double figures.
Averaging just over 16 points over his last 14 contests.
Passed out multiple assists for the 13th time this season and the 30th time over his career.
Amassed 10+ points a team-leading 25 times in 2022-23 and in 61 of 81 career games.
Started 80 of his 81 career games at State.

D.J. Jeffries

Chipped in six points, six rebounds and two steals.
Notched his 21st outing in 2022-23 and 49th time over his career with 5+ rebounds.
Came away with multiple steals for the 9th time this season and 25th time over his career.
Started 61 of 64 career games at State.

Cameron Matthews

Came away with eight points, six boards, five assists and two steals in a solid all-around effort.
Notched his 22nd game this season and the 40th occasion during his career with 2+ assists.
Passed out 5+ assists for the fourth time this year and 5th time over his career.
Marked the 19th outing in 2022-23 and the 37th time over his career with 5+ rebounds.
A perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe and a combined 23-of-26 (88.4 percent) over his last five outings.
Tallied his 17th game this season and the 36th occasion in his career with multiple steals.

Dashawn Davis

Notched seven points to complement a season-high tying six assists and three rebounds.
Passed out multiple assists for the 25th time in 27 outings this year
Dished out 5+ assists for a team leading 8th time this year.

Shakeel Moore

Erupted for 20 points highlighted by 14 in the second half.
Scored in double digits in five of his past seven outings and 12 times this season.
All three of his career 20+ scoring performances have come in SEC play this season.
Averaged 21.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals against South Carolina this season.
Passed out multiple assists for the 17th time this season and the 51st time in his career.
Made 40 of his 42 career starts in Maroon and White.

Bench

Shawn Jones Jr. set a career high in points and splashed two treys en route to an 11-point scoring night.
Marked his first career performance in double digits.
Chipped in at least 5 points in six of his last seven outings.
Tyler Stevenson contributed four points during his Bulldog Senior Night.

Postgame Notes: MSU vs. South Carolina

Players Mentioned

Dashawn Davis

D.J. Jeffries

Shawn Jones Jr.

Cameron Matthews

Shakeel Moore

Tolu Smith III

Tyler Stevenson

Mississippi State University Athletics

Postgame Notes: MSU vs. South Carolina

Players Mentioned

Dashawn Davis

D.J. Jeffries

Shawn Jones Jr.

Cameron Matthews

Shakeel Moore

Tolu Smith III

Tyler Stevenson

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