Postgame Notes: No. 17 State vs. South Carolina

TEAM NOTES

Mississippi State extended its season's best winning streak to seven games as the Bulldogs started SEC action with a dominant 85-50 rout over South Carolina on Saturday afternoon at Humphrey Coliseum to improve to 13-1 overall and 1-0 in SEC play.
The 35-point win is the second-largest margin of victory for the Bulldogs during a SEC opener trailing only a 90-53 triumph over Auburn on Jan. 5, 2005.
The 35-point win also marked State's largest margin over victory under Coach Jans against a SEC opponent and during the 49 all-time meetings versus the Gamecocks.
Overall, the Bulldogs improved to 30-19 over South Carolina headed by a 17-5 mark at Humphrey Coliseum. Dating back to the 2017-18 season, State has won 10 of the last 15 meetings versus the Gamecocks.
The Bulldogs closed out the first half with a commanding 43-18 lead. The 18 points allowed is the lowest total by a SEC opponent under Coach Jans.
The +33 halftime margin is the largest lead against a SEC opponent under Coach Jans and was State's largest halftime lead against a SEC opponent since a 52-18 margin versus Arkansas on 02/08/2003.
State won its SEC opener for the first time under Coach Jans. He moves to two wins shy of 200 victories for his career.
The Bulldogs are 4-0 this season and 25-8 over the last three seasons under Coach Jans during day games. Day games are considered those that tipoff before 5 p.m. local time.
The Josh Hubbard, Claudell Harris Jr., RJ Melendez, Cameron Matthews and Michael Nwoko combination started its fourth consecutive game and improved to 5-0 on the season.
State had at least four players secure double figures for the eighth time this season where the Bulldogs are 7-1 this season and 20-5 overall under Coach Jans.
State notched 10 steals and has registered double-digit steals for the eighth time this season. The Bulldogs have notched 10+ steals on 32 occasions under Coach Jans with a cumulative 26-6 record when accomplishing the feat.
For the season, State has amassed 145 steals which holds the program's top spot through 14 games. The Bulldogs also have committed just 133 turnovers which shatters the program's lowest total through 14 games. The previous mark was 167 miscues in 2016-17.
State is 12-1 this season and 38-8 over the last three seasons under Coach Jans when scoring 70 or more points. Conversely, the Bulldogs are 5-0 this season and 27-2 under Coach Jans when holding its opponent under 60 points.
State advanced to 9-0 on the season and to 43-5 when leading at halftime with Coach Jans at the helm.
The Bulldogs won the rebounding battle for the 10th time in 14 games this season with a 40-32 advantage. State is 10-0 this season and 44-12 during the Coach Jans era when accomplishing the feat.
State has canned 125 triples which is 3rd-most in program history after 14 games.
The Bulldogs scored 26 of their 35 field goals on the interior en route to a 52-24 edge in paint points.
The Maroon and White converted 17 of the game's 20 fastbreak points.
As a team, State connected on 35-of-62 from the field (56.5 percent), notched an 8-for-25 clip from three-point territory (32.0 percent) and sank 7-of-9 at the foul line (77.8 percent).
The Bulldogs are 6-0 on the season and 17-4 during the Chris Jans era when shooting at least 50 percent from the field.
State is 11-0 this season and 48-13 over the last three seasons under Coach Jans when shooting 40.0 percent or higher.
The Bulldogs are 7-0 this season and 32-5 over the last three seasons under Coach when holding their opponent to under a 40 percent shooting clip.
Conversely, South Carolina recorded a 16-for-55 shooting effort (29.1 percent), misfired on 17 of its 19 three-point attempts (10.5 percent) and knocked down 16-23 at the charity stripe (69.6 percent).

PLAYER NOTES

Josh Hubbard

Started his 28th consecutive game over the last two seasons.
Recorded 21 points, three rebounds and two assists.
Marked his 6th game of the season and 19th career game of 20+ points.
Notched double figures in 23 consecutive games dating back to the Ole Miss game on 02/21/2024 and for the 44th time in 49 career games which puts him in a 16th-place tie with Ray White (1978-79).
Compiled 847 points in his career, which is second in school history for freshmen and sophomores through 49 career games. He trails only Ray White (1976-77 – 867 points).
Buried at least one trey in 27 straight games dating back to the Georgia game on 02/07/2024.
The 27-game run is the 3rd longest in program history. He passed Bart Hyche's streak from the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons during today's game.
Dished out multiple assists in 12 of 14 games this season.
Marked his 3rd outing of 2024-25 and his 11th career outing with at least five three pointers made.
Drained multiple triples in 13 of 14 games in 2024-25 and for the 42nd time during his 49 career games.

Claudell Harris Jr.

Made his fourth consecutive start, his 7th start this season and the 71st start of his career.
57 of his 71 starts have come over his last three seasons.
Notched 17 points, nine rebounds and two assists.
Marked his 8th game of 2024-25 and 79th career game with 10+ points.
Set a season-high and tied a career-best with nine rebounds.
Drained multiple treys for the seventh straight game, the 11th time this season and the 70th occasion of his career.
Secured 5+ rebounds for the 3rd outing this season and 35th outing of his career.
Handed out multiple dimes for the 71st time of his career.

RJ Melendez

Made his eighth start in State's last nine games and his 35th career start over 104 career games.
Converted the game's opening points sinking a pair of free throws.
Added six points, four rebounds and three steals.
Registered multiple steals for the 6th outing of 2024-25 and 24th outing of his career.
Finished with a team best +34 plus-minus rating.

Cameron Matthews

Started in 80 of the team's last 83 games over the last three seasons under Coach Jans.
Competed in his school-record 147th game.
Stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, five assists, three steals and two blocks.
Totaled a +23 plus minus rating which gives him a cumulative +673 plus-minus rating over 83 games with Coach Jans at the helm.
Posted a positive plus/minus mark in 13 of 14 games this season and dialed up at least a +10 plus/minus rating 34 times over the last three seasons.
The three steals give Matthews 229 for his career which continues to build on his school record which he set during the McNeese game on 12/14.
His two blocks give him his 17th career outing with multiple rejections.
The 30th time where Matthews has secured at least five rebounds coupled with multiple assists and multiple steals during the same game.
Dished out at least five assists for the sixth time this season where the Bulldogs have won all six games and for the 18th time in his career where State has posted a cumulative 14-4 mark.

Michael Nwoko

Made his 11th straight start and his 13th career start between State and Miami.
Recorded a block, a steal and +16 plus-minus rating during today's action.

BENCH NOTES

State's bench outscored the Gamecocks by a 32-28 margin. The Bulldogs have outscored their opponent in 11 of 14 games off the bench this season.
Riley Kugel fired in 12 points, two rebounds and an assist.
His third straight game, 7th outing of the season and 36th career game with double-digit points.
State improved to 6-1 when Kugel secures 10+ points.
KeShawn Murphy tucked away 12 points, eight rebounds, four blocks, three assists and a steal.
Secured 10+ points for the 7th time this season and 13th time of his career.
State improves to 7-0 this season and 12-1 overall when Murphy dials up 10+ points.
12 of his 20 efforts with 5+ rebounds have come this season.
The four blocks are marked a new career-best for Murphy.
Six of his nine outings with multiple blocks have come in 2023-24
Recorded multiple assists for the 8th time this season and the 17th occasion of his career.
Gai Chol, Shawn Jones Jr., Martavious Russell and Dellquan Warren rounded out the scoring for State with two points each.
Warren also chipped in three assists, three rebounds and steal, while Jones Jr. contributed two rebounds, two blocks and an assist.
Russell secured two rebounds and an assist.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Postgame Notes: No. 17 State vs. South Carolina

Players Mentioned

Cameron Matthews

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