Five Things To Know: State vs. Southeastern Louisiana

Saturday, November 15

Starkville

2 p.m.

Mississippi State

Southeastern Louisiana

Tickets From $13 - $18

HOUSTON, TX - October 26, 2025 - Mississippi State Forward Achor Achor (#99) during the game between the Houston Cougars and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Fertitta Center in Houston, TX. Photo By Erik Williams

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Five Things To Know: State vs. Southeastern Louisiana

November 14, 2025 | Men's Basketball

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by Matt Dunaway, Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State men's basketball returns home for a Saturday matinee versus Southeastern Louisiana at Humphrey Coliseum.

The Bulldogs (1-1, 0-0 SEC) will look to bounce back from a 96-80 defeat to No. 16 Iowa State at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakata. State was plagued by 26 turnovers, and the Cyclones were strong on the interior en route to claiming a 56-30 edge in paint points.

Southeastern Louisiana (0-3, 0-0 Southland) has dropped road decisions to Ole Miss (88-58 on 11/03), Louisiana-Lafayette (58-52 on 11/07) and Georgia Tech (60-50 on 11/10).

As a program, Mississippi State secured its third straight NCAA Tournament bid for the third time in program history during the 2024-25 season. The last time the Bulldogs accomplished the feat was in 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05.

This season, State is looking to connect four consecutive NCAA Tournament trips for the 2nd time in program history. The previous 4-year run went from 2001-02 to 2004-05 under Rick Stansbury.

State's victories over No. 18 Pitt, at No. 21 Memphis, versus No. 21 Ole Miss, at No. 19 Ole Miss and against No. 7 Texas A&M gave the Bulldogs five wins over AP Top 25 foes for the first time in program history during the 2024-25 regular season.

Humphrey Coliseum has been one of the nation's most electric atmospheres during the Chris Jans era where the Bulldogs posted top six program average attendance marks in back-to-back seasons. The Hump will celebrate the 50th anniversary of opening its doors in 17 days on December 1.

Fans can purchase single game tickets for the program's remaining non-conference home games through Mississippi State's Athletic Ticket Office at www.HailState.com/tickets or by calling (662) 325-2600 / (888) 463-2947 (GO DAWGS).

SERIES HISTORY
The Bulldogs have won 19 of the 20 all-time meetings with Southeastern Louisiana, most recently an 80-59 triumph last season. Josh Hubbard (23 points, 5 assists) paced a three-player attack in double figures.

State has posted a combined 59-5 mark against Houston Christian, Lamar, McNeese, Nicholls, Northwestern State, Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Texas-Rio Grande Valley who also are members of the Southland Conference.

The Matchup: Mississippi State (1-1, 0-0 SEC) vs. Southeastern Louisiana (0-3, 0-0 Southland)
Where: Starkville, Mississippi – Humphrey Coliseum
When: Saturday, November 15, 2:01 p.m. CT
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast (https://hailst.at/48SCVcS)

Online: SEC Network+
Stream: ESPN App, www.ESPN.com/watch (Subscription Required)
Direct Link: https://hailst.at/49wsNqa
Talent: Bart Gregory, Marcus Grant

Radio: Mississippi State Sports Network – Powered by Learfield
Talent: Jason Crowder, Richard Williams
Affiliates: WKBB-FM 100.9 Super Talk Golden Triangle
Free Online Audio: Hail State and The Varsity Network Apps
Direct Link: https://hailst.at/4hR5867

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT STATE
1. Chris Jans, one of the nation's premier bench bosses, is in his fourth season of leading the State program. He is assisted by George Brooks, David Anwar, Patrice Days, Scott Padgett and Dillon Elder.

Jans, a three-time WAC Coach of the Year during his tenure at New Mexico State, owns an impressive .709 winning percentage (207-85) in his 10th season as a NCAA Division I head coach. He earned his 200th career victory against No. 21 Ole Miss (01/18/2025).

Jans is seventh among NCAA active coaches with the aforementioned .709 winning percentage which sits behind only Mark Few (Gonzaga), Bill Self (Kansas), John Calipari (Arkansas), Randy Bennett (Saint Mary's), Rick Pitino (St. John's) and Tom Izzo (Michigan State) among coaches with at least nine seasons of NCAA Division I experience.

In his four seasons at State, Jans has amassed 64 victories, which is most for a State coach and trails only Florida's Todd Golden among the six, SEC third-year coaches. He is the only active SEC coach at his respective school to post a trio of 20-plus win seasons during his first three seasons inside the league.

Jans remains in the elite company of Calipari (Kentucky – 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12), Bruce Pearl (Tennessee – 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08) and Tubby Smith (Kentucky – 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000) as the only four coaches in SEC history to take their squads to three straight NCAA Tournaments with at least 21 wins during their first three seasons inside the league.

Nationally, Jans is joined by Jon Scheyer (Duke) as the only fourth-year coaches in the nation to take their squads to the 2023, 2024 and 2025 NCAA Tournaments, respectively.

As a junior college head coach, Jans won the 1997-98 NJCAA Division II National Championship at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Jans played a vital role as an assistant coach at Wichita State which was headed by a 2013 NCAA Final Four run, five NCAA Tournament trips and four Missouri Valley Conference regular season crowns before he won the 2015 Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year during his first season as a NCAA Division I head coach at Bowling Green.

Jans ushered in an unprecedented run of success over a five-year span at New Mexico State where he guided the Aggies to a 122-32 record sparked by three NCAA Tournament trips. The program was in-line for a 4th NCAA Tournament appearance before the 2019-20 postseason was canceled.

2. State's returning group is fueled by Josh Hubbard, Shawn Jones Jr. and Dellquan Warren.

Hubbard, a two-time All-SEC Second-Team selection, joined Erick Dampier as the only State players to notch All-SEC status during their freshman and sophomore seasons. He is a consensus All-SEC Preseason First-Team pick this season in addition to being named to the Bob Cousy, Naismith Trophy and Oscar Robertson Preseason Watch Lists.

Hubbard is joined by Bailey Howell (1957-58-59) and Jamont Gordon (2006-07-08) as the lone State players to rip off back-to-back seasons of 550+ points. His 1292 career points are 24th on State's all-time list and the third-highest points total in program history through 71 games behind Howell and Jerry Jenkins (1973-74-75).

This season, Hubbard ranks the SEC's top 15 in five categories: points per game (26.00– 1st), assists per game (6.50 – 2nd), three-point field goals made (3.50 – 4th), three-point field goal percentage (38.9 – 8th) and free throw percentage (88.2 – 13th).

Hubbard has racked up double figures in 65 of 71 outings fueled by 18 of his 29 efforts of 20+ points versus SEC foes. He has sunk multiple triples in 61 of 71 career games and has hit at least one three-pointer in 49 consecutive games which set a program record breaking Darryl Wilson's mark of over 30 years during the Oklahoma game (02/22). The Madison native has already buried 223 treys which is already 5th on the program's all-time list.

Hubbard exploded for a career-best 38 points against No. 4 Alabama (01/29/2025). The 38 points are the most for a State player during the 2000s, and the most points in program history versus a ranked opponent.

Over his last 16 outings, Hubbard has dialed up 23.1 points per game sparked by 56 triples. He has led the team in scoring during 36 of his 52 career starts since the Auburn game (01/28/2024). Hubbard poured in 27 points, his second-highest scoring performance against a non-conference opponent, versus North Alabama (11/05) to start the 2025-26 season.

Hubbard, a two-time Howell Trophy winner awarded to the state's top collegiate player and ESPN top 100 recruit for the Class of 2023, capped his high school career as the state of Mississippi's all-time leading scorer with 4,367 career points. He broke a state record that stood for 37 years previously held by Mississippi State's Robert Woodard.

Jones Jr. has made 80 of his 95 appearances off the bench over his four seasons with the Bulldogs. He posted a career-high tying 11 points versus No. 16 Iowa State (11/10), while his SEC career-best is 11 points against South Carolina (02/28/2023). Jones Jr. posted 7.0 points per game over his last eight appearances dating back to March 1, 2025.

Warren has seen action in 28 games off the bench over the last two seasons. He chipped in multiple assists in nine outings in addition to multiple steals on three occasions. The sophomore equaled his career-best with five points versus North Alabama (Nov. 5) to begin the 2025-26 campaign.

Announced at SEC Media Days by Coach Jans back in mid-October, Gai Chol will miss the 2025-26 season due to injury.

3. State's transfer class includes Achor Achor (Samford • Kansas State), Amier Ali (Arizona State), Quincy Ballard (Florida State • Wichita State), Jayden Epps (Georgetown • Illinois), Sergej Macura (KK Mega Bemax • Serbia) (Ja'Borri McGhee (UAB) Brandon Walker (Texas-Arlington • Montana State).

Achor has collected 1026 over his two junior college seasons and four seasons at the NCAA Division I level. His best season was when the Melbourne, Australia product was a 2023-24 Lou Henson Award finalist which is awarded to the nation's top mid-major player while at Samford.

Achor was a 2023-24 All-Southern Conference First-Team honoree averaging 16.1 points per game and nearly fueled Samford to a 2024 NCAA Tournament upset of Kansas. His best effort at State was 9 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks versus No. 16 Iowa State (11/10).

Ali came on strong towards the end of freshmen campaign at Arizona State where he poured in five of his 7 outings in double figures against Big 12 foes. He boosted his average to 8.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game sparked by a 42.8 three-point percentage over ASU's last 11 games. Ali made his season debut with three points against No. 16 Iowa State (11/10)

Ballard has started in 69 straight games for Wichita State and Mississippi State over the last three seasons. He's had massive jumps in his scoring and rebounding averages in all of his three seasons at Wichita State (2.1 PPG, 2.1 RPG • 2022-23), (7.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG • 2023-24) and (10.0 PPG, 9.2 PPG • 2024-25).

On the defensive end, Ballard has racked up 152 career blocks fueled by 45 performances with multiple blocks and six efforts of five-plus rejections. He registered 8 points and 7 rebounds against North Alabama (11/05) during State's season opener.

Epps has piled up 1182 career points over 88 appearances sparked by 62 outings in double figures
18 performances of 20-plus points and seven efforts of 30 or more points. He has drained 155 career three-pointers highlighted by 42 games with multiple treys.

Epps is complete combo guard with 23 games with multiple steals and 15 performances with five-plus assists. He tallied 5 points versus North Alabama (11/05) in his State debut.
Macura has a pair of his KK Mega Bemax teammates from Serbia, Andrija Jelavic (Kentucky) and Filip Jovic (Auburn), also are playing at SEC schools. He represented his native Slovenia at multiple FIBA events. He provided 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game as Slovenia won the silver medal at the 2024 U20 EuroBasket Championships in Poland.

Macura provided a strong opening night effort of seven points, a game-leading 12 rebounds and two steals versus North Alabama (11/05).

McGhee played at UAB where the Blazers were 24-13 and made the 2025 NIT Elite 8 under Andy Kennedy. State and UAB have won 16 of 22 games over the last two seasons where McGhee scored 10 or more points. Four of his five efforts of 20-plus points were against American Conference foes last season.

Overall, McGhee has amassed 1,440 career points which also includes two junior college seasons. He tallied 11 of his 14 points against North Alabama (11/05) during the second half of State's season opener.

Walker, a two-time All-Big Sky Honorable Mention pick, has dialed up 49 of his 57 career outings over his last two seasons at Montana State. He was ranked among the Big Sky's top 10 in field goal percentage and points last season.

Overall, Walker has produced 1,196 points over his four-year collegiate career. He dialed up 10 points and made all four of his shot attempts versus No. 16 Iowa State (11/10).

4. State's freshmen class features King Grace, Jamarion Davis-Fleming, Tee Barlett and Cameren Paul were ranked No. 12 nationally and fifth-best among SEC schools by ESPN's Classes for 2025.

Grace is consensus four-star prospect who played his final high school season at Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy based in Dallas, Texas. He ranked No. 75 in ESPN's Top 100 for the Class of 2025 and posted 24.3 points per game as a senior where he helped his team capture the EIBC Championship. Grace's top effort is 7 points and 3 rebounds versus No. 16 Iowa State (11/10).

Davis-Fleming is another consensus four-star prospect as the state of Mississippi's top prospect while playing at Canton High School. He was rated No. 97 in ESPN's Top 100 for the Class of 2025.
The 2024-25 Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year posted 24.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 blocks per game as the 2024-25 Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Mississippi. Davis-Fleming has secured five of the team's nine blocks on the defensive end.

Bartlett is a unanimous four-star prospect who played his high school season for Overtime Elite based in Atlanta, Georgia. He ranked No. 94 in ESPN's Top 100 for the Class of 2025 and averaged 9.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game as a senior. Overtime Elite players can play a max of 20 minutes per contest.

Paul is rated as high as a four-star prospect who played his last high school season at South Grand Prairie High School based in Grand Prairie, Texas. He averaged 15.2 points per game as a senior.

5. As a program, State has earned seven straight postseason appearances when postseason tournament has been played (4 NCAA • 3 NIT) and 17 postseason appearances (10 NCAA • 7 NIT) during the 2000s.

The Bulldogs have compiled a 36-4 mark versus non-SEC opponents during the regular season and have held 22 of those 40 opponents (55.0 percent) to 60 points or less under Coach Jans.

State has posted an 11-3 regular season record against fellow major conference squads (ACC • BIG EAST • Big Ten • Big 12 • former Pac-12) under Coach Jans. Nine of the 11 wins have come on road/neutral floors with the Bulldogs posting an average 8.9 margin-of-victory in those nine contests.

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