Postgame Notes: No. 14 State vs. Vanderbilt

TEAM NOTES

Mississippi State extended its season's long winning streak to eight games as the Bulldogs worked their way to a 76-64 road triumph over Vanderbilt on Tuesday night at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville.
The Bulldogs improved to 14-1 overall and 2-0 in SEC action. The 14-1 mark is the program's best start through 15 games since 2003-04, the last time State won the SEC regular season championship.
The Maroon and White also won its first two SEC outings for the first time since 2012-13.
State has amassed a +47 margin of victory during its first two SEC game which is the third-highest mark among the 2-0 starts.
The Bulldogs advanced to 6-1 versus NCAA NET Quad 1 and Quad 2 opponents this season.
State has won its first three true road games for the first time since 2004-05. All three road games have been NCAA NET Quad 1 outings.
The Bulldogs have won six of their last eight matchups versus Vanderbilt dating back to the 2018-19 season headed by two of three outings under Coach Jans.
Ahead 29-26 at the 5:16 mark, State closed the opening stanza with a 10-2 to surge ahead 39-28 going into the locker room.
State advanced to 10-0 on the season and to 44-5 when leading at halftime with Coach Jans at the helm.
The Bulldogs bookended their first-half spurt with 17 of the opening 23 points of the second half to build a 56-34 advantage with 14:08 left.
Vanderbilt charged back to get within five points on two occasions, the latest at 65-60, with 4:19 remaining.
Out of the under four-minute timeout, Claudell Harris Jr. delivered dagger three-pointer late shot clock coupled with a Cameron Matthews transition dunk courtesy of a KeShawn Murphy steal to get State's lead back to double figures.
The Josh Hubbard-Claudell Harris Jr.-RJ Melendez-Cameron Matthews and Michael Nwoko combination started its fifth consecutive game and improved to 6-0 on the season.
State is 13-1 this season and 39-8 over the last three seasons under Coach Jans when scoring 70 or more points.
Conversely, the Bulldogs are 10-0 this season and 47-11 under Coach Jans when holding its opponent under 70 points.
State is 12-0 this season and 49-13 over the last three seasons under Coach Jans when shooting 40.0 percent or higher.
The Bulldogs are 8-0 this season and 33-5 over the last three seasons under Coach when holding their opponent to under a 40 percent shooting clip.
State fired in 21 of its 27 field goals on the interior en route to a 42-30 edge in paint points.
The Bulldogs converted nine of the game's 13 fastbreak points. The Maroon and White also edged out Vandy by a 12-11 margin in points off turnovers.
State tallied seven steals to bring its season total to 152 which holds the program's top spot through games.
The Bulldogs have committed just 144 turnovers which shatters the program's lowest total through 15 games.
As a team, State connected on 27-of-57 from the field (47.4 percent), notched a 6-for-16 clip from three-point territory (37.5 percent) and sank 16-of-19 at the foul line (84.2 percent).
State is 7-1 this season and 30-7 over the last three seasons when sinking at least 15 free throws with Coach Jans at the helm.
Conversely, Vanderbilt recorded a 22-for-62 shooting effort (35.5 percent), misfired on 21 of its 26 three-point attempts (19.2 percent) and knocked down 15-20 at the charity stripe (75.0 percent).

PLAYER NOTES

Josh Hubbard

Started his 29th consecutive game over the last two seasons.
Recorded nine points and five assists.
Distributed at least five assists for the fifth time and dished out multiple dimes in 13 of 15 games this season.
State is 5-0 this season and 6-1 over the last two seasons when Hubbard has 5+ assists.
The nine points ended Hubbard's run of 23 consecutive games in double figures. The last time he was held to single digits was against Ole Miss on 02/21/2024.
Compiled 856 points in his career, which is second in school history for freshmen and sophomores through 50 career games. He trails only White (1976-77 – 875 points).
Buried at least one trey in 28 straight games dating back to the Georgia game on 02/07/2024.
The 28-game run is the 3rd longest in program history. He is one game away from tying Dee Bost's streak from the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons.

Claudell Harris Jr.

Made his fifth consecutive start, his 8th start this season and the 72nd start of his career.
58 of his 72 starts have come over his last three seasons.
Notched 13 points, grabbed a team-high tying seven rebounds and added a steal.
Marked his 9th game of 2024-25 and 80th career game with 10+ points.
State is 9-0 this season when Harris Jr. reaches double figures.
Drained multiple treys for the eighth straight game, the 12th time this season and the 71st occasion of his career.
Secured at least five rebounds for the 4th outing this season and the 36th time of his career.

RJ Melendez

Made his ninth start in State's last 10 games and his 36th career start over 105 career games.
Recorded a season-high and team-leading 19 points to go along with a season's best and team-high tying seven rebounds, two steals and a block.
The 19 points are his second-highest scoring output of his career.
Notched his 35th career game in double figures and his 28th game with at least five boards.
His teams are a combined 24-11 when Melendez scores 10+ points.
Registered multiple steals for the 7th outing of 2024-25 and the 25th time of his career.

Cameron Matthews

Started in 81 of the team's last 84 games over the last three seasons under Coach Jans.
Competed in his school-record 148th game.
Cashed in the first points of the contest for the Bulldogs on a putback layup.
Poured in 10 first-half points before ultimately stuffing the stat sheet with a season's best 16 points, five boards, three assists, three rejections and a steal.
His 30th career game in double figures and his 79th outing with five rebounds.
State is 22-8 when Matthews provides 10+ points over his career.
Totaled a +16 plus-minus rating which gives him a cumulative +688 plus-minus mark over 84 games with Coach Jans at the helm.
Posted a positive plus/minus mark in 14 of 15 games this season and dialed up at least a +10 plus/minus rating 35 times over the last three seasons.
His lone steal gives Matthews 230 for his career which continues to build on his school record which he set during the McNeese game on 12/14.
His three blocks marked his 18th career outing with multiple rejections.
Dished out multiple assists in 12 of 15 games this season and accomplished the feat in 81 career games.

Michael Nwoko

Made his 12th straight start and his 14th career start between State and Miami over the last two seasons.
Recorded eight points in addition to five boards, an assist and a block.
The eight points matched a career-best for Nwoko during a conference game. He registered eight points against No. 8 Duke while at Miami last season
Seven of his top 10 scoring efforts have already come this season.
Marked his eighth game tallying at least five rebounds in a State uniform

BENCH NOTES

Shawn Jones Jr. complied a team-leading seven points to go along with two rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Turned in a +13 plus-minus rating for the second consecutive game.
Drained all four of his free throw attempts
KeShawn Murphy tucked away four points, six rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block.
13 of his 21 efforts with 5+ rebounds have come this season.
Recorded multiple assists for the 9th time this season and the 18th occasion of his career.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Postgame Notes: No. 14 State vs. Vanderbilt

Players Mentioned

Cameron Matthews

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