Shakeel Moore Shines in South Carolina Victory
March 01, 2023 | Men's Basketball
Bulldog guard excelled on both ends of the floor.
STARKVILLE – Shakeel Moore knew what had to be done as Mississippi State took on South Carolina in a Tuesday night contest with a lot on the line.
The junior shone in the Bulldogs' gritty 74-68 victory, making plays on both ends of the court to keep his team's NCAA Tournament hopes alive and well. From quick steals to momentous three-pointers, Moore always found a way to contribute and keep his squad a few steps ahead of the Gamecocks.
Moore finished the night with 20 points, just two points shy of his season-high that coincidentally came in a big road victory against South Carolina in late January. Fourteen of those points came in the second half when Moore shot an impressive 6-of-8 from the floor. He also added two assists and two steals.
Mississippi State as a whole worked well together following a pregame Senior Night celebration that was filled with emotions. Moore played a major role in sparking an offense that shot 50 percent from the floor for just the sixth time this season, and he also benefitted from the help that his teammates gave him. The Bulldogs' chemistry has been evident over the last few games.
"This team's been different," Moore said. "You notice it, we're all more together. We're all with each other every day."
The turning point in what had been a mostly close game? Two back-to-back offensive fouls that Moore drew in the final minutes of the contest. He stepped up when the team needed him most and took two hard charges, leading to buckets on the other end of the court for the Bulldogs. According to Moore, he was inspired as head coach Chris Jans once again pushed the Dawgs to find a way to win.
"Coach stresses that it's going to come down to the wire and come down to who can make the winning play," Moore said. "I felt like those two plays were the game-changer."
Jans was just as impressed with what his starting guard was able to do defensively en route to the program's 20th victory of the season.
"They were huge plays," Jans said. "Shak's gotten better at the knack of timing of [taking charges], not so much in the paint, but out front."
Even when the contest was close, the packed crowd in Humphrey Coliseum was cheering with every dribble. Moore and his teammates seemed to ignite the place and fill it with energy, especially down the stretch as the night got late.
"The Hump kept staying with us," Moore said. "It was all about locking in and executing."
The regular season is drawing to a close. That means Mississippi State is entering the most important time of the year: the postseason. The Bulldogs have a very real chance of playing in March Madness this season, and it appears that Moore is heating up at just the right time. He's scored in double-digits in five of the program's last seven games and has become an offensive force.
Still, Moore's defense could be the biggest part of who he is as a basketball player. His mentality regarding this underappreciated aspect of the game was evident against South Carolina, and it will be a continuing theme as the Bulldogs strive for success over the next few weeks.
"It's all about just buckling down and strapping down on defense," Moore said.
