Postgame Notes: MSU vs. Vandy

TEAM NOTES

Mississippi State returned to the win column and ended a two-game skid with a 68-55 victory over Vanderbilt to improve to 13-5 overall and 2-3 in SEC play.
The Bulldogs have won 10 of their 13 games this season by 10+ points.
The Maroon and White improve to 17-4 in day games over the last two seasons under Coach Jans. Overall, Jans holds an impressive 54-17 record in day games.
Trailing 12-10 at the 12:54 mark, State found its groove behind 14 consecutive points over a 5:50 span to turn the score in its favor to 24-12 with 7:04 to go.
The Maroon and White extended its advantage to 36-21 heading into half. The 21 points marked the lowest point total by a SEC opponent has scored against State under Coach Jans.
The +15 halftime lead also is the largest versus a SEC opponent with Coach Jans at the helm.
The Bulldogs ballooned the spread out to 45-26 with 16:44 to go on a Tolu Smith III bucket.
Vanderbilt trimmed the margin down to 11 points on multiple occasions, but State was able to fend off the Commodores to take a 13-point decision.
The Bulldogs have won five of the last seven meetings in the series over Vanderbilt dating back to the 2018-19 season. State also has posted a 6-1 mark against the Commodores at Humphrey Coliseum since 2014-15.
The Bulldogs improve to 19-6 over the last two seasons under Coach Jans at Humphrey Coliseum. He holds an 86-17 home record during his eight-year coaching career at the NCAA Division I level.
In 104 halves over two seasons with Coach Jans at the helm, State has allowed 30 points or fewer on 54 occasions (51.9 percent) and limited the opposition to under a 35 percent shooting clip 33 times (31.7 percent).
The Bulldogs have won 11 of their 12 games this season and moves to 29-4 over the last two seasons under Coach Jans when leading at the half.
State sank 19 of its 25 baskets on the interior and doubled up the Commodores by a 36-18 margin in paint points.
State grabbed 13 offensive rebounds and dialed up 12 of the contest's 18 points courtesy of second-chance opportunities.
The Bulldogs outrebounded the Commodores, 45-33, and have won the rebounding battle in 14 of 18 games this season.
State earned a double-digit rebounding advantage in five games this season and on 15 overall occasions under Coach Jans over the last two seasons.
Overall, the Bulldogs are 5-0 in 2023-24 and are 13-2 when winning the battle of the boards under Coach Jans.
State blitzed the Commodores, 23-7, in bench points and has outscored its opponents in 14 of 18 outings this season. In those 14 aforementioned contests, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents by a 487-184 margin.
State drained 25-of-58 from the floor (43.1 percent), sank 6-of-21 from three-point territory (28.6 percent) and hit on 12-of-22 at the charity stripe (54.5 percent).
Conversely, Vanderbilt turned in a 20-for-53 shooting effort (37.7 percent), knocked down 5-for-22 of its three-pointers (22.7 percent) and produced a 10-for-18 clip from the free throw line (55.6 percent).

PLAYER NOTES

Tolu Smith III

Started in 88 of his 91 career games at State.
Amassed a team-leading 25 points and a season's best 11 rebounds.
Turned in his 2nd double-double of the 2023-24 season and has tallied 17 of his league-best 27 double-doubles versus SEC competition.
Collected his first of 2023-24 and his 11th career performance of 20+ points and 10+ rebounds.
Recorded back-to-back, his third effort over his last four games, and the 21st effort of 20+ points for his career. Provided 15 of those aforementioned games versus SEC opponents.
Extended his run to 24 consecutive games in double figures dating back to last season which is highlighted by 12 double-doubles. Amassed double-digit points in 71 of 91 career games.
The 25 points gives Smith III 1,328 career points and moves him into 20th place on the program's all-time points list.
Smith III eclipsed Rich Knarr (1973-74-75-76) and Tang Hamilton (1998-99-2000-01) on the program's scoring list during today's game.
Connected on 9-of-12 from the floor and finished 7-for-13 from the line.
Notched his 5th game of the season and 33rd career game with 5+ free throws.
Marked his 2nd outing of 2023-24 and 30th career performance of 10+ rebounds.

D.J. Jeffries

Started 83 of 86 career games at State.
Chipped in 10 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
Secured double figures in 5 games this season and in 63 career games.
State is 26-11, while State and Memphis are 47-16 when he scores 10+ points.
Marked his 12th outing of the season and 65th career performance of 5+ rebounds.
Dished out 3+ assists for the 8th time this season and the 35th time of his career.
Finished with an impressive +23 plus/minus rating during his time on the court.

Cameron Matthews

Started 51 of the team's 52 games over the last two seasons.
Provided 4 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal.
Grabbed 5+ rebounds for the 12th outing in 2023-24 and the 52nd outing of his career.
Distributed multiple assists in 12 games this season.
37 of 55 games with 2+ assists and 35 of 53 games with 5+ rebounds have come over the last two seasons.

Dashawn Davis

Started 46 consecutive games and 47 of 49 games at State that he's played in.
Secured at least one steal in 16 of 18 outings this season.

Shakeel Moore

Made 54 of his 56 career starts while at State and has started the team's last 10 games.
Secured 6 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, a block and a steal.
Finished a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
Moore's lone steal gives him 123 for his career and give him sole possession of 17th which enabled him to pass Greg Lockhart (1986-87-88-89) on the program's all-time list.
Recorded a steal in 75 of 107 career games.

Bench

Josh Hubbard collected 11 points and has produced double figures in 15 of 18 games off the bench this season.
Amassed 255 total points which is 5th-most for a freshman in program history through 18 games and the most since Rickey Brown (1976-77).
Registered his 15th game of the season with 10+ points off the bench which ties Darryl Wilson (1993-94) for 3rd-highest dating back to the 1988-89 season.
Drained 48 of his 79 field goals from beyond the arc (60.8 percent).
Distributed 3+ assists for the 6th time this season.
Finished with a bench-leading +10 from the floor.
Trey Fort added 6 points and buried multiple three's for the 6th time this season.
21 of Fort's 31 field goals have come from beyond the three-point line (67.7 percent).
Jimmy Bell Jr. put up 4 points and 7 rebounds.
Marked his 11th outing of the season and 35th career performance with 5+ rebounds.
Shawn Jones Jr. tacked on 2 points and 2 steals to round out the scoring.
Snatched multiple steals for 3rd time this season and 7th time of his career.

Mississippi State University Athletics

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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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