Postgame Notes: MSU vs. Pittsburgh

TEAM NOTES

Mississippi State returned to college basketball's biggest stage and dropped a hard-fought battle with Pittsburgh, 60-59, during Tuesday's NCAA First Four action at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio.
Mississippi State and Pittsburgh have split both meetings during the all-time series. Both matchups have come in the postseason, the previous during the 2001 NIT Round of 16.
The two teams were tied nine times and traded the lead on 21 occasions, 12 of the lead changes came during the second half. The 21 lead changes were the most in a NCAA Tournament game since 2018.
The Maroon and White dominated on the glass and outrebound the Panthers, 49-28. The 49 rebounds are the most, the 18 offensive boards tie the most and the +21 rebounding margin is the second-best mark in program history during a NCAA Tournament game.
State scored 15 of its 24 buckets inside the lane. The Bulldogs racked up 30 of the game's 44 points in the paint.
State secured a 13-6 edge in second-chance opportunities.
The two teams traded baskets in the early before the Bulldogs would create its largest lead of the game, getting up by six, at 14-8 with 15:14 left. State drained four three-pointers during the early going.
From there, Pittsburgh would rattle off a 10-0 run of its own to go up 18-14 with 10:24 remaining. The two teams stayed close, and the Panthers took a 35-34 edge into halftime behind eight triples.
The second half was played within a single possession until Pittsburgh went up 58-52 behind seven straight points capped by a Blake Hinson three-ball at the 3:08 mark.
State would fire back with seven consecutive points behind a Tolu Smith dunk, a D.J. Jeffries corner three-ball and a Smith transition layup to take a 59-58 lead with 32 seconds to go.
Pittsburgh answered behind a Jamarious Burton basket in the paint with 10 seconds on the clock. State had an opportunity to win the game in the final seconds. Shakeel Moore misfired on a three-point attempt followed by a D.J. Jeffries missed tip-in at the buzzer.
As a team, the Bulldogs hit on 24-of-63 from the floor (38.1 percent), 6-of-23 from beyond the three-point line (26.1 percent) and a 5-of-7 clip from the foul line (71.4 percent).
Conversely, Pittsburgh was 21-of-54 on its field goal attempts (38.9 percent), was 9-of-19 on its triples (47.4 percent) and 9-of-15 at the charity stripe (60.0 percent).

PLAYER NOTES

Tolu Smith

Provided 13 points and eight rebounds to extended his career-long streak to 18 straight games in double figures.
Provided 10+ points a team-leading 29 times this season and in 65 of 85 career games in Maroon and White.
Passed out multiple assists for the 13th time this season and the 30th time over his career.
Started 83 of his 85 career games at State, joined by D.J. Jeffries as the only two Bulldogs to start every game this season.

D.J. Jeffries

Nearly contributed a double-double with a strong effort of nine points and 13 rebounds.
Made three treys, his 11th outing with multiple three's in 2022-23 and 28th time in his career.
Notched his 25th outing in 2022-23 and 53rd time over his career with 5+ rebounds.
Collected 10+ rebounds for the third time this year and seventh time over his career.
Started 65 of 68 career games at State, joined by Tolu Smith as the only two Bulldogs to start every game this season.

Cameron Matthews

Came away with two points, seven rebounds and two assists.
Amassed 5+ rebounds 22 times this season and 40 times over his career.
Notched his 25th game this season and the 42nd occasion during his career with 2+ assists.
Started in 33 of 34 games this season.

Dashawn Davis

Poured in a team-leading 15 points and five assists.
Recorded double figures for the second consecutive game, 11th time this season, and 25th time over his career.
The 15 points was his fourth-highest scoring output of the season.
Dished out 5+ assists for a team leading 10th time this year and 29th occasion in his career.

Shakeel Moore

Went for 14 points highlighted by 10 in the opening half.
Registered 26 of his 32 career outings in double figures at Mississippi State.
Notched 10+ points in eight of his last 11 outings and 15 times this season.
Passed out five assists which marked his fourth game with 5+ this season.
Made 44 of his 46 career starts in Maroon and White.

Bench

Keyshawn Murphy, Will McNair Jr. and Tyler Stevenson each added a bucket.
McNair Jr., Stevenson and Eric Reed Jr. combined for nine rebounds.

Postgame Notes: MSU vs. Pittsburgh

Players Mentioned

Dashawn Davis

D.J. Jeffries

Cameron Matthews

Will McNair Jr.

Shakeel Moore

Eric Reed Jr.

Tolu Smith III

Tyler Stevenson

Mississippi State University Athletics

Postgame Notes: MSU vs. Pittsburgh

Players Mentioned

Dashawn Davis

D.J. Jeffries

Cameron Matthews

Will McNair Jr.

Shakeel Moore

Eric Reed Jr.

Tolu Smith III

Tyler Stevenson

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