Postgame Notes: MSU vs. Alabama

TEAM NOTES

Mississippi State dropped a hard-fought 82-74 decision to Alabama to fall to 12-4 overall and 1-2 in SEC play.
The Crimson Tide have won five straight and eight of the last nine in the series dating back to the 2020-21 season.
Keys to the Alabama victory were scoring all 18 of the game's points in transition. The Crimson Tide also scored 18 of the game's 24 points off turnovers.
The Maroon and White hit six of their first 10 shots to build a 15-6 advantage during the opening 5:37 of the contest.
Alabama worked its way back into the contest behind 11 first-half free throws and took a 40-38 lead into the locker room.
The Crimson Tide stretched the spread out to double digits, 62-52, with 12:02 left after a Latrell Wrightsell Jr. triple.
State charged back with 18 of the next 25 points to regain a 70-69 edge at the 4:32 mark on a Tolu Smith III layup.
All square at 74-74 with 2:32 to go, Alabama scored the contest's last eight points to secure the victory.
State connected for 19 of its 26 field goals on the interior and outscored the Tide in paint points, 34-28.
The Bulldogs outrebounded Alabama by a 37-36 margin and have won the rebounding battle during 13 of 16 games this season.
State falls to 18-6 over the last two seasons under Coach Jans at Humphrey Coliseum. He holds an 84-17 record during home games under over his eight-year coaching career.
State drained 26-of-61 from the floor (42.6 percent), sank 7-of-17 from three-point territory (41.2 percent) and hit on 15-of-27 at the charity stripe (55.6 percent).
For the season, State has connected on 119 three-pointers which ties the 2008-09 squad for 6th-highest in program history through 16 games.
Conversely, Alabama turned in a 25-for-58 shooting effort (43.1 percent), knocked down 10-for-28 of its three-pointers (35.7 percent) and produced a 22-for-26 clip from the free throw line (84.6 percent).

PLAYER NOTES

Tolu Smith III

Started in 86 of his 89 career games at State.
Amassed a team-leading 15 points, grabbed a season's best 10 rebounds and handed out a season-high 3 assists.
Secured 16 of his SEC-leading 26 career double-double versus SEC opponents.
Racked up double figures in all four outings this season, 22 consecutive games dating back to last season and in 69 of 89 games for his career.
The 10 rebounds enabled Smith III to become the 14th player in program history to surpass 700 career rebounds. His 706 career rebounds are 13th in program history.
Eclipsed Leland Mitchell (1961-62-63) on the program's list during tonight's game.
Dished out multiple assists for the first time this season and 32nd time of his career.

D.J. Jeffries

Started 81 of 84 career games at State.
Chipped in 9 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals.
Tallied his 11th outing of the season and 64th career outing with 5+ rebounds.
Registered multiple blocks for the 2nd time this season and 21st outing of his career.
Marked his 4th game of 2023-24 and his 30th career performance with multiple steals

Cameron Matthews

Started 49 of the team's 50 games over the last two seasons.
Provided 12 points on a 5-of-6 shooting clip.
Marked his 8th outing of the season in double figures.
State dropped to 15-4 when Matthews scores 10+ points.
16 of his 19 games of 10+ points have come over the last two seasons.

Dashawn Davis

Started 44 consecutive games and 45 of 47 games at State that he's played in.
Handed out 3 assists, his 11th outing of the season with at least three dimes.
Secured at least one steal in 14 of 16 outings this season.

Shakeel Moore

Made 52 of his 54 career starts while at State and has started the team's last eight games.
Secured 13 points and 2 steals.
Registered 10+ points during 6 of his last 8 outings.
Totaled his 38th career performance in double figures, 33 times while at Mississippi State.
Moore's 2 steals gives him 120 for his career and places him in 18th place tie with Fred Thomas (2013-14-15-16) on the program's all-time list.
The 2 steals allowed him to pass Jamont Gordon (2006-07-08) during tonight's game.
Recorded 2+ steals in 47 of 105 career games including 36 occasions at State.

Bench

Josh Hubbard collected 14 points and has produced double figures in 14 of 16 games this season.
Amassed 241 total points which is 5th-most for a freshman in program history through 16 games and the most since Rickey Brown (1976-77).
Registered his 14th game of the season with 10+ points off the bench which ties Roquez Johnson for 4th-highest dating back to the 1989-90 season.
Knocked down multiple treys in 14 of 16 outings this season.
Drained 45 of his 74 field goals from beyond the arc (60.8 percent).
Trey Fort secured 6 points, all in the first half.
Secured 4 outings with 2+ three's made.
16 of his 24 field goals have come from beyond the three-point line (66.7 percent).
Jimmy Bell Jr. put up 2 points and grabbed three rebounds.
Finished with a team-leading +8 plus-minus rating during his time on the floor.
Shawn Jones Jr. tacked on 3 points, 2 rebounds and a block.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Postgame Notes: MSU vs. Alabama

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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