Postgame Notes: MSU at South Carolina

TEAM NOTES

Mississippi State dropped a 68-62 contest at South Carolina during Saturday's SEC opener for both teams. The Bulldogs fell to 11-3 overall, 0-1 in SEC play.
State fell to 47-44 all-time and to 3-2 versus South Carolina in SEC openers.
State had its three-game winning streak against the Gamecocks come to a close. Overall, the Bulldogs still leads the all-time series, 29-18.
State jumped out to a 14-6 lead over the game's first 10 minutes. The Bulldogs connected on 8 of their 14 field goal attempts.
Ahead 24-20 at the 4:06 mark, South Carolina closed the half with 10 of the stanza's last 14 points to take a 30-28 edge into the locker room.
The Gamecocks took their largest lead, 51-42, with 9:22 remaining. State would battle back to within two points after a Josh Hubbard four-point play with 22 seconds left.
Down 64-62, the Maroon and White had an opportunity in the closing seconds, but two State turnovers enabled the Gamecocks to sink their last four free throws to close out the six-point decision.
The Bulldogs have registered 10-plus steals in six outings this season and on 18 occasions in two seasons under Coach Jans.
A key to South Carolina's victory was a 35-36 rebounding edge fueled by 15 offensive rebounds. It marked the second time that State was outrebounded this season. The Gamecocks were able to score 16 of the game's 22 points on second-chance opportunities.
The Bulldogs tallied 17 of their 25 field goals on the interior and a 34-24 advantage inside the painted area.
State outscored the Gamecocks, 30-20, in bench points and has outscored its opponents in 12 of 14 games this season. In those 12 aforementioned games, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents by a 431-173 margin.
State was whistled for a season-high tying 23 personal fouls as the Gamecocks shot 26 of the game's 40 attempts at the foul line.
In 96 halves over two seasons with Coach Jans at the helm, State has allowed 30 points or fewer on 52 occasions (54.2 percent).
State drained 25-of-52 from the floor (48.1 percent), sank 3-of-13 from three-point territory (23.1 percent) and hit on 9-of-14 at the charity stripe (64.3 percent).
For the season, State has connected on 106 three-pointers which ranks sixth-highest in program history through 14 games.
Conversely, South Carolina turned in a 21-for-52 shooting effort (40.4 percent), converted on 8-for-23 on its three-pointers (34.8 percent) and produced a 18-for-26 clip from the free throw line (69.2 percent).

PLAYER NOTES

Jimmy Bell Jr.

Started his 48th consecutive game over the last two seasons between Mississippi State and West Virginia. Overall, Bell Jr. has started in 112 of 129 career games.
Collected 6 points and 2 steals.
Registered his 2nd game of the season and 7th game of his career with multiple steals.

D.J. Jeffries

Started 79 of 82 career games at State.
Chipped in 4 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
Distributed 3+ assists for the 7th time this season and 34th time of his career.

Cameron Matthews

Started 47 of the team's 48 games over the last two seasons.
Provided 6 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists and a block.
Collected 34 of 52 games with 2+ assists, 33 of 51 games of 5+ rebounds, and 26 of 45 games of 2+ steals during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.
Picked up his 8th game of 2023-24 and his 23rd career game with 3+ steals.
The 4 steals allowed Matthews to move into 9th-place on the program's all-time list and gives him 156 for his career.
Matthews surpassed Tony Watts (1989-90-91-92) during today's game on the program's steals list.

Dashawn Davis

Started in 42 consecutive games and 43 of 45 games at State that he's played in.
Tucked away 6 points and a season's best 5 rebounds.
Registered 5+ rebounds for the 1st time in 2023-24 and 9th time of his career.

Shakeel Moore

Earned the nod in the starting five for the 6th straight game, State was 5-0 when Moore started entering today's game.
Made 50 of his 52 career starts at State.
Fired in 10 points and 2 assists.
Went 3-of-5 from the field and 3-of-4 from the charity stripe.
Registered 10+ points in 5 of his last 6 outings.
Totaled his 37th career performance in double figures, 32 times while at Mississippi State.
His lone steal give Moore 117 for his career and places him in sole possession of 20th place.
The steal allowed him to pass Chauncey Robinson (1983-85-85-86) and Jeff Norwood (1982-83-84-85-86) during today's game.

Bench

Tolu Smith III racked up 13 points going 4-6 from the field and sank all five of his foul shots.
The 13 points gives him 1,239 career points and moves him into 26th place on the program's all-time list.
Eclipsed Erick Dampier (1994-95-96) on the scoring list during today's game.
Smith III has secured double figures in 67 of his 87 games at State.
Marked the 2nd time in 2023-24 and the 30th career game with 5+ free throws made.
Josh Hubbard posted 13 points and grabbed a season-high tying 4 rebounds.
Captured double figures in 12 of 14 outings this season.
Notched 202 total points which is 5th-most for a freshman in program history through 14 games and the most since Rickey Brown (1976-77).
Registered 38 of his 63 field goals from beyond the arc (60.3 percent).
Recorded 2+ three's for the 12th outing this season.
KeShawn Murphy finished with 4 points and hit both of his shot attempts.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Postgame Notes: MSU at South Carolina

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Players Mentioned

Jimmy Bell Jr.

Dashawn Davis

Josh Hubbard

D.J. Jeffries

Cameron Matthews

Shakeel Moore

KeShawn Murphy

Tolu Smith III

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