Posgame Notes: No. 15 State vs. No. 1 Auburn

TEAM NOTES

No. 15 State was unable to bounce back and was handed its second straight loss, an 88-66 setback, by No. 1 Auburn on Tuesday night.
State's 14-3 record is the program's best start through 17 games since 2009-10.
The Bulldogs faced a ranked Auburn team for the 9th time over the last 11 meetings dating back to the 2017-18 season. The Tigers have posted a 9-2 mark in those games and stretched their all-time series advantage to 84-71.
State was facing the nation's top-ranked team for the 18th time in program history and first time since 2014-15 versus Kentucky. The Bulldogs fell to 2-16 in those contests.
The Josh Hubbard-Claudell Harris Jr.-RJ Melendez-Cameron Matthews and Michael Nwoko combination started its seventh consecutive game and moved to 6-2 on the season.
The Bulldogs dropped to 3-1 in true road games this season and to 6-3 against NCAA NET Quad 1 and Quad 2 opponents on the season.
State won the rebounding battle, 42-30. The Maroon and White fell to 10-1 this season and 44-13 under Coach Jans when accomplishing the feat.
The Bulldogs hauled in 20 offensive rebounds and secured 24 of the game's 32 second chance points.
State fired in 19 of its 22 field goals on the interior en route to a 38-36 edge in paint points.
The Maroon and White is averaging 82.8 points per game, which is third-most in program history through 17 games.
As a team, State connected on 22-of-63 from the field (34.9 percent), misfired on 24 out of 27 three-point attempts (12.5 percent) and sank 19-of-27 at the foul line (70.4 percent).
State fell to 7-2 on the season and 30-8 with Coach Jans at the helm when they sink at least 15 foul shots.
Conversely, Auburn recorded a 33-for-60 shooting effort (55.0 percent), went 10-for-24 on three-pointers (41.7 percent) and knocked down 12-15 at the charity stripe (80.0 percent).

PLAYER NOTES

Josh Hubbard

Started his 31st consecutive game over the last two seasons.
Recorded 17 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Buried multiple trifectas in 15 of 17 games this season, and in 44 out of 52 career games.
Recorded double figures in 25 of the last 26 games.
Sank a career-high 11-of-12 at the free throw line.
Compiled 887 points in his career, which is second in school history for freshmen and sophomores through 52 career games. He trails only White (1976-77 – 898 points).
Distributed multiple assists in 15 of 17 games this season.
Buried at least one trey in 30 straight games dating back to the Georgia game on 02/07/2024.
The 30-game run is the 2nd longest in program history. He passed Dee Bost's streak from the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons.

Claudell Harris Jr.

Made his seventh consecutive start, his 10th start this season and the 74th start of his career.
60 of his 74 starts have come over his last three seasons.
Scored the first bucket of the game for State on a three-pointer which enabled him to reach 1,500 career points.
Notched 11 points, grabbed two rebounds and added two steals.
Marked his 11th game of 2024-25 and 82nd career game with 10+ points.
State is 9-2 this season when Harris Jr. reaches double figures.
Swiped multiple steals for the 29th time in his career.

RJ Melendez

Made his 11th start in State's last 12 games and his 38th career start over 107 career games.
Recorded 15 points to go along with a season-high and team-leading 10 boards.
Marked his first double-double of the season and his fourth double-double of his career
Notched his 37th career game in double figures.
His teams are a combined 24-13 when Melendez scores 10+ points.

Cameron Matthews

Started in 83 of the team's last 86 games over the last three seasons under Coach Jans.
Competed in his school-record 150th game.
Added four points, five rebounds and two assists.
Dished out multiple assists in 14 of 17 games this season.

Michael Nwoko

Made his 14th straight start and his 16th career start between State and Miami over the last two seasons.
Recorded two points in addition to three boards, a block and an assist.

BENCH NOTES

State's bench outscored the Tigers by a 17-16 margin.
KeShawn Murphy tucked away 11 points, eight rebounds and two steals.
Grabbed at least five boards in 14 out of 17 games this season.
Swiped multiple takeaways in his 6th career outing.
State fell to 7-1 this season and 12-2 over his career when Murphy provides 10+ points.
Shawn Jones Jr. tallied six points coupled with three assists.
Dished out multiple assists for the 15th time in his career.
Dellquan Warren added two steals, a rebound and an assist.
His third game with multiple steals.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Posgame Notes: No. 15 State vs. No. 1 Auburn

Players Mentioned

Cameron Matthews

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