Mississippi State
11-1,0-0SEC
#21 Memphis
9-3,0-0AAC
The Final Horn: State 79, No. 21 Memphis 66
December 21, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Joel Coleman
A quick rundown of MSU’s win over the Tigers.
THE BOTTOM LINE: In a game that had a bit of a March feel headed in, Mississippi State proved to be more than up for the challenge. MSU completely controlled Saturday's affair at No. 21 Memphis, earning an incredibly impressive 79-66 victory over the Tigers at the FedEx Forum in front of a national television audience on CBS. An early-first-half 13-0 run for the Bulldogs made a 5-all game 18-5 in favor of the Maroon and White just over seven minutes into the contest, and State led by double-digits the rest of the way. The Dawgs held a 48-32 edge at halftime and never let up over the final 20 minutes, stretching their lead up to as many as 24 points on the way to the triumph. It's the second time this season MSU has knocked off a Top-25 foe. Both times the Bulldogs handled business in dominating fashion. State previously downed then-No. 18 Pitt 90-57 in the SEC/ACC Challenge back on Dec. 4. Now with seven total wins over Top-25 competition since becoming the leader of the MSU program ahead of the 2022-23 season, Chris Jans now has the most ranked wins through a head coach's first three campaigns in Bulldog history.
KEY NUMBERS: Defense and long-range shooting set the stage for Mississippi State's successful Saturday. Both were on full display for the Bulldogs in the first half and the Tigers simply couldn't overcome State's start. MSU made 50 percent of its 3-pointers prior to halftime, sinking nine of its first 18 shots from deep. Meanwhile the Dawgs didn't allow Memphis to get anything going. State forced 12 Tiger turnovers in the first 20 minutes, scored 17 points off those turnovers and limited Memphis to just 30.8 percent shooting in the first half. MSU's defense kept the pressure on in the closing period and didn't allow Memphis to even threaten a comeback. Individually, four Bulldogs scored in double figures, led by Riley Kugel's 19 points. KeShawn Murphy and Josh Hubbard each totaled 13 while Cameron Matthews added 12. Murphy and Matthews tied for the team lead with nine rebounds apiece to help State win the battle of the boards 46-32.
NEXT UP FOR THE DAWGS: Mississippi State will be back in action in Starkville for the first time in more than three weeks when the Bulldogs host Bethune-Cookman on Monday, Dec. 30. Tip time at Humphrey Coliseum is set for 8 p.m. and the game will be televised by SEC Network.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Dawgs are runnin'!#HailState🐶 || 📺: https://t.co/MhcqJMrudx
— Mississippi State Men's Basketball (@HailStateMBK) December 21, 2024
pic.twitter.com/ah1HByZWMR
Ball Movement 🔄#HailState🐶 || 📺: https://t.co/MhcqJMqWnZ pic.twitter.com/5kfh5VJGSn
— Mississippi State Men's Basketball (@HailStateMBK) December 21, 2024
1H || Under-8 Timeout (7:45)
— Mississippi State Men's Basketball (@HailStateMBK) December 21, 2024
𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄 » 29
Memphis » 12
Since the under-16 timeout, the Dawgs are on a 24-7 run! #HailState🐶 || 📺: https://t.co/MhcqJMqWnZ pic.twitter.com/Nk5hcITivD
.@RileyKugel is bringing the heat early! 🔥
— Mississippi State Men's Basketball (@HailStateMBK) December 21, 2024
- 5-5 from the field
- 3-3 from deep
- 13 points #HailState🐶 || 📺: https://t.co/MhcqJMrudx pic.twitter.com/PZIo7CKwob
Hustle Ball#HailState🐶 || 📺: https://t.co/MhcqJMrudx pic.twitter.com/VEQjTh7IFh
— Mississippi State Men's Basketball (@HailStateMBK) December 21, 2024
Murph gives us our largest lead of the game!#HailState🐶 || 📺: https://t.co/MhcqJMrudx pic.twitter.com/VFKgMGWDQz
— Mississippi State Men's Basketball (@HailStateMBK) December 21, 2024
.@MelendezRamses - Ball Hawk.#HailState🐶 || 📺: https://t.co/MhcqJMrudx pic.twitter.com/ccWln8YBlX
— Mississippi State Men's Basketball (@HailStateMBK) December 21, 2024
Teamwork! @RileyKugel 🤝 @nolimitc4m #HailState🐶 || 📺: https://t.co/MhcqJMrudx pic.twitter.com/fJaGe3e7n4
— Mississippi State Men's Basketball (@HailStateMBK) December 21, 2024
"There is movement in the aisles." - Jack Cristil#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/S3PdWWQLbk
— Mississippi State Men's Basketball (@HailStateMBK) December 21, 2024
Big time 𝓦 in the Ⓜ️#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/WNgBiZa6NT
— Mississippi State Men's Basketball (@HailStateMBK) December 21, 2024
