Postgame Notes: State vs. LSU

TEAM NOTES

Mississippi State used a dominate second half to flip the script and turn a 7-point halftime deficit into a 70-60 victory over LSU during the opening game of Thursday's second round of the 2024 SEC Tournament.
The Bulldogs improved to 20-12 overall this season and have won their last seven SEC Tournament openers dating back to 2016-17 season.
State advances to face top-seed and fifth-ranked Tennessee in Friday's quarterfinal action. Tip time is set for 12 p.m. CT televised by ESPN.
The Maroon and White has won three consecutive games over LSU under second-year coach Chris Jans and six straight over the Tigers at the SEC Tournament during the 2000s.
State's win gives Coach Jans back-to0back 20-win seasons with the Bulldogs. He joins John Calipari (Kentucky) and Eric Musselman (Arkansas) as the only active SEC coaches to post consecutive 20+ win seasons during their first two seasons at their respective schools.
The Bulldogs picked up their 41st win in the Coach Jans era, which is the most wins among the six, second-year SEC head coaches.
State improves to 17-6 this season and to 25-7 over the last two seasons when scoring 70 or more points under Coach Jans.
The Bulldogs have held their opponents to less than 70 points in 46 of 65 games (70.8 percent) under Coach Jans.
This season, State has won 15 of their 20 games by 10-plus points.
The Maroon and White earn their third halftime comeback win of the 2023-24 season. The others were against Northwestern (11/19) on a neutral floor and versus Ole Miss (02/21) at Humphrey Coliseum.
Coach Jans captured his 26th halftime comeback victory over his 8-year NCAA Division I coaching career. For Jans, 16 of the 26 comebacks have come against a conference opponent, and 10 of the 26 comebacks have resulted in a 10-plus point win.
The 7-point halftime deficit is the second-largest comeback for a State squad at the SEC Tournament. It matches the 2007-08 team who erased a 36-29 halftime hole to win 69-67 in overtime over Alabama on 03/14/2008.
State has won all seven games this season and 12 of 15 games over the last two seasons under Coach Jans on neutral floors. Overall, Coach Jans is 37-16 in his 8th season as a NCAA Division I coach on neutral floors.
The Bulldogs improved to 12-4 this season and 20-6 over the last two seasons under Coach Jans during day games.
State is 20-9 this season and 36-12 over the last two seasons under Coach Jans when shooting 40.0 percent or higher.
The Bulldogs are 12-1 this season and 24-5 over the last two seasons under Coach Jans when holding their opponent to under a 40 percent shooting clip.
State has registered 10-plus steals in 10 outings this season and on 22 occasions in two seasons under Coach Jans.
In 132 halves with Coach Jans at the helm, State has allowed 30 points or fewer on 62 occasions (47.0 percent) and limited the opponents to under a 35 percent shooting clip 39 times (29.6 percent).
State scored 13 of its 23 field goals on the interior en route to a 26-22 advantage in paint points.
The Bulldogs connected on 23-of-55 from the field (41.8 percent), knocked down 6-of-21 from three-point range (28.6 percent) and sank 18-of-27 at the free throw line (66.7 percent).
State improves to 14-3 this season and 22-5 over the last two seasons under Coach Jans when converting on at least 15 free throws.
Conversely, LSU logged a 19-for-50 shooting effort (38.0 percent), sank 7-for-20 of its triples (35.0 percent) and turned in a 15-for-21 effort from the charity stripe (71.4 percent).

PLAYER NOTES

Josh Hubbard

Earned the nod in State's starting five for the 13th straight game.
Collected a team-leading 24 points and has tallied double figures in 27 of 32 games.
The 24 points are the most for a State freshman in a SEC Tournament game. The previous mark was held by Fred Thomas, who scored 21 points versus South Carolina on 03/13/2013.
Marked his 6th straight outing of 20+ points and his 12th performance of 20+ points for the season which is tops in the country among true freshmen.
The 6 straight outings of 20+ points are the longest streak for a State player since Jeff Malone in 1982-83.
Amassed 27.5 points per game fueled by 32 three-pointers over his last 6 contests.
For the season, sank 101 of 167 field goals (60.5 percent) from beyond the three-point line.
Marked his 17th effort with multiple three-pointers made and registered 5+ made free throws for the 11th time.
Distributed multiple assists for the 17th outing of the season.
Recorded multiple steals in 4 outings this season.
Finished with a team-best +16 plus/minus ratio during his time on the floor.

Tolu Smith III

Started in 100 of his 105 games in the Maroon and White.
Produced 8 points and grabbed 12 of his season-high 13 rebounds during the second half.
Grabbed 10+ rebounds for the 9th time of 2023-24 and the 37th time in his career.
The 13 rebounds gives Smith III 848 for his career. He surpassed Tyrone Washington (1996-97-98-99) to move to 7th place during today's game.
The 13 rebounds also are the 4th most for a State player during a SEC Tournament game.
Distributed 3+ dimes for the 4th time this season which marks his 39th career game with multiple assists.

Dashawn Davis

Started his 21st game of the season and 50 of his 63 games in the Maroon and White.
Racked up 12 points and matched a season-best with 5 steals.
The 5 steals tied the most for a State player during a SEC Tournament game. He is the fifth player in program history to accomplish the feat and the first since Fred Thomas against South Carolina on 03/13/2013.
Added 10+ points for the 3rd-straight game, the 10th time in 2023-24 and the 36th outing of his career.
Acquired 5+ steals for the 2nd time of his career.
Sank multiple triples which is his 9th outing this season and 19th career outing with 2+ treys made.
32 of his 45 games with multiple steals have come during the past two seasons.

Cameron Matthews

Started his 52nd straight outing and 65 of the team's 66 games over the last two seasons.
Added 3 points and 3 assists.
Handed out 3+ assists for the 17th time this season and the 39th outing of his career.
Secured a steal in 25 of 32 games this season.
48 of his 66 games with multiple assists have occurred during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.

D.J Jeffries

Made his 24th start of the season and has started in 89 of 98 games as a Bulldog.
Put up 8 points, 11 rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Marked his 5th game of 2023-24 and the 12th outing of his career with 10+ rebounds.
Jeffries' 11 rebounds give him 533 for his career and moves him into 34th place on the program's all-time rebounds list.
He eclipsed Barry Stewart (2007-08-09-10) during today's contest on the program's list.
Finished with a team-best +16 plus/minus ratio during his time on the floor to join Josh Hubbard.

Bench

Shakeel Moore secured 9 points, a rebound and an assist.
Led the bench with a +6 plus/minus ratio.
Shawn Jones Jr. tacked on 4 points, 3 rebounds and a steal.
KeShawn Murphy rounded out the scoring with 2 points and a block.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Dashawn Davis

Josh Hubbard

Shawn Jones Jr.

Cameron Matthews

Shakeel Moore

KeShawn Murphy

Tolu Smith III

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