Postgame Notes: MSU at Vanderbilt

TEAM NOTES

Mississippi State nearly overcame a 15-point deficit during the second half before dropping a hard-fought 77-72 decision at Vanderbilt in the regular season finale for both teams on Saturday evening at Memorial Gymnasium.
The Bulldogs had an opportunity to send the game to overtime but misfired on a three-point attempt in the closing seconds.
State finishes the regular season at 20-11 overall and 8-10 in SEC action.
The Bulldogs will face Florida in the 8-9 matchup during Thursday's SEC Tournament Second Round. Tip time is set for 12 p.m. CT televised by SEC Network.
State scored 18 of its 28 field goals inside the lane en route to a 36-22 edge in paint points.
The Bulldogs dominated the boards and outrebounded Vanderbilt by a 45-24 advantage.
The +21 rebounding advantage was a season's best, the previous mark was a 43-24 edge over Mississippi Valley State on 12/03.
State grabbed 23 offensive rebounds which resulted in 25 of the game's 33 points off second-chance opportunities.
The Commodores jumped out to a 37-27 halftime advantage behind a 50 percent shooting clip and seven first-half triples.
Vanderbilt stretched the lead out to 15, 42-27, during the opening minute of the second half.
State would work its way back into the contest courtesy of a 20-7 spurt over a 7:26 span to draw back to 49-47 with 11:41 to go. The flurry was capped by a Shawn Jones Jr. dunk from Shakeel Moore.
Ahead 56-53, Vanderbilt went back ahead by double figures after eight straight points. Back-to-back treys from Myles Stute made it 64-53 with 5:56 to go.
State's final push started down 69-60 with a Jones Jr. trey and a Moore runner in the lane to bring the score to 69-65 at the 1:34 mark.
The Bulldogs pulled within a possession, 74-72, on a D.J. Jeffries coast-to-coast layup with eight seconds left.
State nearly got a steal from Cameron Matthews, but he was whistled for a foul. Vanderbilt's Ezra Manjon split his free throws. The Maroon and White's game-tying opportunity was a Moore triple that misfired.
As a team, the Bulldogs hit on 28-of-61 from the floor (45.9 percent), 4-of-17 from beyond the three-point line (23.5 percent) and a 12-of-21 clip from the foul line (57.1 percent).
Conversely, Vanderbilt was 26-of-53 on its field goal attempts (49.1 percent), was 12-of-25 on its triples (48.0 percent) and 13-of-18 at the charity stripe (72.2 percent).

PLAYER NOTES

Tolu Smith

Poured in a career-high tying 27 points and grabbed nine of his 11 rebounds on the offensive end.
Was 9-of-17 from the field and a 9-of-15 mark at the foul line.
Extended his current streak to a career-long 15 straight games and provided his 62nd career outing in double figures.
Recorded 11 of his 17 outings of 20-plus points against SEC competition.
Recorded his 8th double-double over his last 15 games.
Passed out multiple assists for the 14th time this season and the 31st time over his career.
Amassed 10+ points a team-leading 26 times in 2022-23 and in 62 of 82 career games.
Started 81 of his 82 career games at State.

D.J. Jeffries

Joined Smith to secure a double-double of his own with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Both of his double-doubles are against SEC opponents this season.
Recorded 10+ points in 16 games this season and 58 times over his career.
Mississippi State and Memphis are a combined 43-15 when he scores 10 or more points.
Notched his 2nd outing in 2022-23 and 6th time over his career with 10+ rebounds.
All 11 rebounds were on the defensive end.
Multiple assists in 18 games this season.
Started 62 of 65 career games at State.

Cameron Matthews

Hauled down 11 rebounds and added two assists.
Came away with his 23rd game this season and the 41st occasion during his career with multiple assists.
Collected his 4th outing in 2022-23 and 6th time over his career with 10+ rebounds.

Dashawn Davis

Tacked on five points and two steals.
Recorded 2+ steals in 16 of his 29 games this season.

Shakeel Moore

Recorded 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
Amassed double figures in six of last eight, eight of last 11 and 10 of last 14 outings.
Passed out multiple assists for the 18th time this season and the 52nd time in his career.
Made 41 of his 43 career starts in Maroon and White.

Bench

Shawn Jones Jr. was State's top performer off the bench where he contributed seven points and two rebounds.
Jones Jr. has chipped in at least 5 points in seven of his last eight outings.
Will McNair Jr. added three points, a block and an assist.

Postgame Notes: MSU at Vanderbilt

Players Mentioned

Dashawn Davis

D.J. Jeffries

Shawn Jones Jr.

Cameron Matthews

Will McNair Jr.

Shakeel Moore

Tolu Smith III

Mississippi State University Athletics

Postgame Notes: MSU at Vanderbilt

Related News

Players Mentioned

Dashawn Davis

D.J. Jeffries

Shawn Jones Jr.

Cameron Matthews

Will McNair Jr.

Shakeel Moore

Tolu Smith III

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