Postgame Notes: No. 15 State vs. No. 21 Ole Miss

TEAM NOTES

State bounced back into the win column with a dramatic and hard-fought 84-81 overtime victory over No. 21 Ole Miss on Saturday evening at Humphrey Coliseum.
The Bulldogs improved to 15-3 overall and 3-2 in SEC action and put a two-game losing streak in the rear-view mirror.
Tonight's matchup was the first ranked versus ranked matchup against Ole Miss in the all-time series. Coach Jans has posted a 4-1 mark against the Rebels.
The 15-3 mark is the program's best start through 18 games since 2009-10.
The victory enabled Coach Jans to claim his 200th career win as a Division I head coach.
Coach Jans gained his eighth win against an AP Top 25 opponent at State, which ties him with Alabama's Nate Oats and Missouri's Dennis Gates during their first three SEC seasons at their respective programs.
Today's contest was the first overtime game of the season for the Bulldogs. State advanced to 4-2 in overtime under Jans.
The Bulldogs claim a 151-120 advantage in the all-time series which includes a 100-28 mark at home.
State advanced to 8-4 all-time in overtime games with the Rebels and have won three of the last four.
The Bulldogs sparked a 14-2 run to begin the game up until the first media timeout at the 14:45 mark before going into the half with a 37-29 advantage.
With 1:41 left in overtime, Ole Miss was leading 77-76 before RJ Melendez pinned a fastbreak layup against the backboard, which led to a Riley Kugel corner three to take the lead 79-77.
The Josh Hubbard-Claudell Harris Jr.-RJ Melendez-Cameron Matthews and Michael Nwoko combination started its eighth consecutive game and advanced to 7-2 on the season.
The Bulldogs advanced to 7-3 versus NCAA NET Quad 1 and Quad 2 opponents this season
State dominated the rebounding battle, 51-29, which is the largest margin for the Bulldogs under Chris Jans against an SEC opponent. The Maroon and White advanced to 11-1 this season and 45-13 under Coach Jans when accomplishing the feat.
State advanced to 11-0 on the season and to 45-5 when leading at halftime under Coach Jans.
The Bulldogs advanced to 13-1 this season and to 50-14 when shooting 40.0 percent or higher from the field with Coach Jans at the helm.
State had five players score in double figures, and advanced to 5-1 on the season when accomplishing the feat.
State fired in 20 of its 29 field goals on the interior en route to a 40-24 edge in paint points.
State tallied nine steals to bring its season total to 177 which sits at third place in program history through 18 games.
The Bulldogs have committed just 181 turnovers which shatters the program's lowest total through 18 games.
The Maroon and White is averaging 82.9 points per game, which is third in program history through 18 games.
As a team, State connected on 29-of-65 from the field (44.6 percent), recorded a 9-for-27 three-point clip (33.3 percent) and sank 17-of-28 at the foul line (60.7 percent).
The Bulldogs advanced to 48-7 when shooting a higher field goal percentage than its opponent.
State advanced to 8-2 on the season and 30-8 with Coach Jans at the helm when they sink at least 15 foul shots.
Conversely, Ole Miss recorded a 30-for-66 shooting effort (45.5 percent), went 13-for-35 on three-pointers (37.1 percent) and knocked down 8-14 at the charity stripe (57.1 percent).

PLAYER NOTES

Josh Hubbard

Started his 32nd consecutive game over the last two seasons.
Recorded 10 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Registered double figures in 26 of the last 27 games.
Compiled 897 points in his career, which is second in school history for freshmen and sophomores through 53 career games. He trails only Ray White from the 1970s with 913 points.
Distributed multiple assists in 16 of 18 games this season.
Buried at least one trey in 31 straight games dating back to the Georgia game on 02/07/2024.
The 31-game run is the 2nd longest in program history.

Claudell Harris Jr.

Made his eighth consecutive start, his 11th start this season and the 75th start of his career.
61 of his 75 starts have come over his last three seasons.
Added five points, grabbed three rebounds and dished out an assist.

RJ Melendez

Made his 12th start in State's last 13 games and his 39th career start over 108 career games.
Hauled down a rebound and cashed in a putback layup for the game's first points.
Recorded 12 points to go along with eight boards, two assists, a steal and a rejection.
Notched his 38th career game in double figures and his fourth straight game with 10+ points.
His teams are a combined 25-13 when Melendez scores 10+ points.
His 23rd career game with multiple treys.

Cameron Matthews

Started in 84 of the team's last 87 games over the last three seasons under Coach Jans.
Competed in his school-record 151st game.
Stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, tied a team-high 11 rebounds, and added four steals with three dimes.
Notched a +3 plus/minus rating which moves his total to a cumulative +669 plus-minus mark over 87 games with Coach Jans at the helm.
Matthews currently has 240 for his career as he continues to build on his school record which he set during the McNeese game on 12/14.
Dished out multiple assists in 15 of 18 games this season.
Recorded his eighth career double-double and has led State in rebounding 34 times in his career.

Michael Nwoko

Made his 15th straight start and his 17th career start between State and Miami over the last two seasons.
Recorded three points in addition to eight boards and an assist.
10 of his 15 career games with five boards have come this season.

BENCH NOTES

State's bench outscored the Rebels by a 44-33 margin.
Riley Kugel notched a game-high 21 points on 6-for11 shooting, 4-of-8 from three and a flawless 5-for-5 at the charity stripe.
The 21 points is his second highest mark against an SEC opponent.
Also added three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Recorded his 11th career game with 20+ points.
Dished out multiple assists in his 28th career outing.
Swiped multiple steals in his 15th career game.
KeShawn Murphy tucked away 18 points, tied a team-high 11 rebounds and three assists.
All three of his career double-doubles have come this season.
Recorded his 15th career game with 10 points.
Dished out multiple assists in 11 of 18 games this season.
Hauled down 10 boards for the fourth time this season and grabbed at least five boards in 14 out of 17 games this season.
Shawn Jones Jr. tallied five points coupled with a rebound, assist and a steal.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Postgame Notes: No. 15 State vs. No. 21 Ole Miss

Players Mentioned

Cameron Matthews

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