Postgame Notes: State vs. Alabama State

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Postgame Notes: State vs. Alabama State

December 29, 2025 | Men's Basketball

TEAM NOTES

Mississippi State has won four consecutive games and five of its last six outings as the Bulldogs wrapped non-conference action with a 94-56 rout of Alabama State on Monday evening at Humphrey Coliseum.
The Maroon and White led wire-to-wire and didn't take its largest lead until the buzzer.
State started strong and went ahead by double figures, 17-7, after a Jamarion Davis-Fleming slam dunk with 15:12 left in the first half.
The Bulldogs took a 49-31 lead into the locker room as King Grace put the exclamation point on a season's best in first half points with a transition dunk courtesy of Josh Hubbard.
State is 6-1 this season and 55-8 over the last four seasons under Coach Jans when leading at the half.
The Bulldogs quickly pushed the spread to 25 points, 67-42, with 13:13 remaining in the second half as Grace turned a steal into his own transition layup.
Achor Achor canned a trey at the top of the key to close out the 38-point decision where State amassed a season-high with 94 points.
The Bulldogs have won all five games with Alabama State.
State is 8-4 this season and 53-20 over the last four seasons under Coach Jans when scoring 70 or more points.
State is 1-0 this season and 29-2 under Coach Jans when holding their opponent to under 60 points.
Alabama State's 56 points mark the least points scored against the Bulldogs all season.
State is 3-1 this season and 23-7 over the last four seasons under Coach Jans when shooting 50 percent or better.
The Bulldogs have posted a 7-1 record this season and a 60-10 clip with Coach Jans at the helm when shooting a higher field goal percentage than their opponent.
State outrebounded Alabama State 49-27 as the +22 margin is the highest for the Maroon and White has outrebounded an opponent this year.
State is 5-1 this season and 53-16 over the last four seasons under Coach Jans when outrebounding its opponent.
The Bulldogs are 6-2 this season and 38-12 under Coach Jans when grabbing 40+ rebounds.
State had four players secure double figures for the 4th time this season: Josh Hubbard (22 points), King Grace (14 points), Achor Achor (11 points) and Ja'Borri McGhee (10 points).
State is 3-1 this season and 28-13 under Coach Jans when four players score in double figures.
State is 6-1 this season and 39-14 under Coach Jans at Humphrey Coliseum.
The Bulldogs have won 24 of 26 non-conference home games with Coach Jans at the helm.
State is 5-1 this season and 20-4 under Coach Jans during the month of December.
State sank 37-of-69 from the floor (53.6 percent), hit on 10-of-25 from three-point territory (40.0 percent) and sank 10-of-14 at the free throw line (71.4 percent).
The Bulldogs are 3-1 this season and 15-7 over the last four seasons under Coach Jans when knocking down 10 or more three pointers in a game.
Conversely, Alabama State recorded a 14-of-50 shooting effort (28.0 percent), misfired on 14 of its 19 three-pointers (26.3 percent) and tallied an 23-for-34 mark at the charity stripe (67.4 percent).
The 14 made field goals were the fewest by a State opponent this season.

PLAYER NOTES

Josh Hubbard

Started his 63rd consecutive game over the past three seasons (01/27/2024-12/29/2025) where he has led State in scoring during 42 of those 63 outings.
Poured in 16 of his team-leading 22 points during the first half. Overall, he shot 9-for-13 from the field and 4-of-7 from three-point territory.
The 22 points enabled Hubbard to become the 13th player in program history to eclipse 1,500+ career points.
He surpassed Jerry Jenkins (1973-74-75) to claim 12th place on State's all-time scoring list and now has 1,517 points.
The junior guard enters Saturday's SEC opener at Texas 37 points shy from passing Tolu Smith III (2021-22-23-24) for 11th place.
Eclipsed 20+ points in 8 outings this season and for the 35th time in his career.
Secured double figures for the 12th time this season, the 31st time over his last 32 outings (01/11/2025-12/29/2025) and for the 75th time in 82 career games.
Passed Ravern Johnson (2008-09-10-11), Erick Dampier (1994-95-96) and Bailey Howell (1957-58-59) in addition to tying Jenkins for 15th place with 75 games in double figures.
Extended his school-record to 60 consecutive games (02/07/2024-12/29/2025) with at least one three-pointer.
Sank multiple three's for the 9th time this season and in 68 of 82 career outings.
Hubbard has hit 254 career three-pointers and is five treys shy of passing Darryl Wilson (1994-95-96) for 3rd place on the program's all-time list.
Distributed four assists and added a season-high tying three steals.
Dished out multiple assists for the 12th time this season and 60th time in his career.
Recorded multiple steals for the 5th time this season and 18th time in his career.

Jayden Epps

Made his 70th start in his 98th career game between State, Illinois and Georgetown.
Provided six points and two assists.
Had his run of nine consecutive games in double figures come to a close.
Handed out multiple assists for the 4th time this season and 57th time in his career.

Sergej Macura

Stayed in State's starting five for the 2nd consecutive game.
Turned in a solid all-around effort with nine points, five rebounds and three assists.
The 9 points marked his second-highest scoring performance of the season.
Shot a perfect 4-of-4 from the floor and drained his lone three-point attempt.
Grabbed five or more rebounds for the 6th time this season.
The 3 assists equaled his season's best.
Provided multiple assists for the 3rd time this season.

Achor Achor

Started in his 9th game for State and for the 43rd time at the NCAA Division I level.
Scored a season-high 11 points coupled with eight rebounds and a pair of blocks.
Was 3-of-5 shooting and a flawless 4-for-4 from the charity stripe.
His 8th game this season and 41st career outing with 5+ rebounds.
Marked the 2nd time this season and 28th time in his career with multiple blocks.

Quincy Ballard

Started in his 11th game this season and for the 78th time in his last 80 outings over the last three seasons between Mississippi State and Wichita State.
Nearly compiled a double-double with 8 points, a season-high 15 rebounds and two blocks.
Hauled down 10+ rebounds in 3 games this season and 24 times in his career.
The 15 rebounds were the most by a State player this season.
All 24 games with double-digit rebounds for Ballard have come over the last three seasons.
State is 5-0 this season when Ballard leads the team in rebounding.
Opened scoring for the Bulldogs with a put-back layup.
Secured a block in 9 of his last 11 games for State and in 63 of his last 80 outings over the last three seasons.
Swatted multiple rejections for the 4th time this season and the 49th time in his career.

BENCH

State's bench outscored Alabama State by a 38-17 margin as the Bulldogs have outscored their opponent in eight of 13 outings this season.
King Grace dialed up 12 of his career-high 14 points during the second half.
The first time that Grace has amassed 10+ points.
He hit on 6-of-9 shooting and 2-of-3 from beyond the three-point line.
The first time that Grace has drained multiple treys
Ja'Borri McGhee garnered 10 points and three rebounds.
Pumped home double figures in five of his last eight outings (11/24/2025-12/29/2025) and for the 6th time this season.
The 27th time over the last two seasons that McGhee has scored 10+ points where State and UAB have posted a combined 19-8 record.
Jamarion Davis-Fleming tacked on six points and two rebounds.
The six points for Davis-Fleming matched his second-highest scoring effort.
Brandon Walker managed five points and six rebounds.
The 2nd time this season and 46th time in his career that he has notched 5+ rebounds.
Amier Ali rounded out the scoring with three points.
Shawn Jones Jr. garnered three steals which marked the 7th time this season and the 26th time in his career that he's had multiple steals.
Dellquan Warren equaled his career-high with four assists for the Maroon and White.