WATCH: Players Postgame Presser - Memphis

STARKVILLE - Mississippi State guards Jayden Epps and Shawn Jones Jr. spoke to the media as State defeated Mamphis, 71-66, on Saturday afternoon.

2025-26 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Postgame Quotes
Mississippi State vs. Memphis – December 20, 2025

Guards Jayden Epps & Guard Shawn Jones Jr.
Q: How much confidence do you have in this team's poise in late game situations thanks to how you've closed the last three games?
JE: "It give us a lot because we've struggled at it at times. I feel like we're definitely making strides to get better at that, like we showed today. We got through and won the game. We've been showing strides of being better with our turnovers, being better with taking care of the ball, especially down the stretch. Coach has been emphasizing that a lot. So, I feel like we've been getting better at that."

Q: How did it feel to get some of those late shots to fall and to make that dunk?
SJJ: "That felt good, it's basketball. Some days, you don't make it. Some days, you don't miss them. As long as you show up with the right time that's given to you, that's all that matters."

Q: Shawn, you guys held a high scoring Memphis team to just 66 points. What did you feel like you guys did to have success on the defensive end?
SJJ: "We just preached all week to be in the gaps and being on the defensive assignment correct . Taking away different things from them that they're very good at, and we executed at a high level. It won us the game."

Q: Shawn, I want to get your take on what they asked Jayden about close games at the end and making plays. What do you see there?
SJJ: "That's the bare minimum around here making plays and making game winning plays. That's what we preach. For four years, it's been instilled in me. We're finally picking up on it where they know that the big plays aren't making big shots or crossovers. The big plays are the little things like getting rebounds, boxing out your man and things that don't show up on the stat sheet. I feel like it's something we're picking up on as a team collectively, and it's making us a very good team on that side of the ball."

Q: How comfortable are you with the three-guard lineup?
JE: "I feel like it was good for us because they were pressing us a lot. So, putting three guards in there helped us to be able to break the press. We have really good guards coming off the bench in the game. King was ready to step up when he got in the game, and I feel like that's good for us that we got depth like that."

Q: Jayden, how big were moments like that late block in tonight's game?
JE: "I just feel like we had a lot of plays like my block in this game. Like Shawn saving the ball, jumping into the crowd. Coach just always preached to us plays like that. Make a play that's going to win us the game. Make a play, like Shawn said, that doesn't show up on the stat sheet. So, we just tried to stay in the game and just tried to make big plays. We just try to do whatever we can to help us win."

Q: It was a very back and forth game, Shawn, as a leader on this team, what did you say to the guys during huddles or on the floor to keep them together?
SJJ: "Stick with it. Basketball is a game of runs. Since we've been kids, we've been taught that basketball is a game of runs. So, every team is going to have their runs. It's about who can step up and stop the other team's runs. Lately, that's what we've been doing."

Mississippi State University Athletics

WATCH: Players Postgame Presser - Memphis

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