Postgame Notes: No. 24 State vs. LSU

TEAM NOTES

No. 24 Mississippi State clinched its third consecutive 20-win season under Coach Jans as the Bulldogs returned to the winner's circle with an 81-69 victory over LSU on Saturday afternoon at Humphrey Coliseum.
The Bulldogs advanced to 20-9 overall and 8-8 in SEC action.
State has won all four meetings by double digits over the Tigers during the Coach Jans era. The last time the Bulldogs won four in a row over LSU was from the 2008-09 season to the 2010-11 season.
LSU came out hot behind 18 first-half points courtesy of Cam Carter to take a 37-35 lead into the locker room.
The Bulldogs regrouped to outscore the Tigers, 46-32, during the second half. Josh Hubbard went to work with 20 of his game-high 30 points in the second 20 minutes.
State earned its fourth halftime comeback of the season and erased an intermission deficit for the 10th time under Coach Jans. Overall, Coach Jans has earned 30 victories when trailing at the half during his nine seasons as a head coach.
The Bulldogs improved to 6-2 this season and to 27-10 under Coach Jans during day games. Day games are considered contests that tipoff before 5 p.m. local time.
State won the rebounding battle, 36-31, to move to 13-3 this season as well as 47-15 over the last three seasons with Coach Jans at the helm.
The Bulldogs advanced to 14-1 during the 2024-25 season and to 52-8 with Coach Jans at the helm when shooting a higher field goal percentage than their opponent.
State has won eight of nine games this season and secured a 19-5 mark over the last three seasons under Coach Jans when shooting 50.0 percent or higher.
The Bulldogs have won all 12 games this season and dialed up a 37-5 mark over the last three seasons under Coach Jans when holding the opponent to under 40.0 percent shooting.
State tallied six steals to bring its season total to 269 which is the most in program history through 29 games.
The Bulldogs fired in 20 of their 29 field goals on the interior en route to a 40-22 advantage in paint points.
The Maroon and White has amassed 40+ paint points 30 times with Coach Jans at the helm which includes 11 times this season. The Bulldogs are 10-1 this season and 23-7 overall when accomplishing the feat.
State is 18-5 this season and 44-12 over the three seasons under Coach Jans when scoring 70 or more points. Conversely, the Bulldogs are 13-1 in 2024-25 and 50-12 in the last three seasons when holding their opponent to under 70 points.
The Bulldogs got out in transition and converted on 18 of the game's 21 fastbreak points.
State forced nine turnovers and cashed in 13 of the game's 19 points off mistakes.
As a team, State connected on 29-of-51 from the field (56.9 percent), recorded a 7-of-21 clip from three point-territory (33.3 percent) and was 16-of-22 on its foul shots (72.7 percent).
The Bulldogs have drained 238 three-pointers this season which sits at fourth-best in program history through 29 games.
State also advanced to 11-3 in 2024-25 and to 34-9 over the last three seasons under Coach Jans when sinking at least 15 free throws.
Conversely, LSU recorded a 25-for-64 shooting effort (39.1 percent), hit on a 9-for-36 three-point clip (25 percent), and knocked down 10-14 at the charity stripe (71.4 percent).

PLAYER NOTES

Josh Hubbard

Started his 43rd consecutive game over the last two seasons.
Notched a team-leading 20 of his 30 points during the second half. He also tucked away four rebounds, two assists and a steal.
All four of his 30+ scoring efforts have come against SEC opponents with two of the four outings versus LSU.
His 11th game with 20+ points this season and has posted 15 of his 24 outings with 20 or more points versus SEC opponents.
The 30-point performance enabled him to surpass W.D. Stroud (1961-62-63), Tyrone Washington (1996-97-98-99) and Greg Carter (1988-89-90-91) into 34th place on the program's all-time scoring list.
Amassed 1131 points in his career which continues to build on the most points scored by a State player during their freshman and sophomore seasons in program history.
The 1131 points also are the third-most in program history through 64 career games trailing only Bailey Howell (1957-58-59) and Jerry Jenkins (1973-74-75).
Buried at least one trey in 42 straight games dating back to the Georgia game on 02/07/2024. The 42-game run is the longest streak in program history.
Knocked down multiple triples in 26 of 29 games this season and in 55 of 64 career games.
His two three-pointers brings his career total to 199 which enabled him to surpass Timmy Bowers (2001-02-03-04) for sole possession of 6th place in program history.
State is 19-9 this season and 37-21 over the last two seasons when Hubbard scores in double figures.
Dished out multiple assists in 26 out of 29 games this season and in 44 career outings.

Riley Kugel

Started in five straight games, in nine games total this season and for the 38th time during his career.
Added 12 points along with three boards and an assist.
Powered home double-digit points for the 14th occasion this season and for the 43rd time during his career.
State improves to 11-3 this season when Kugel provides 10+ points.
Drained multiple three's for the 10th game this season and for the 32nd time in his career.

RJ Melendez

Made his 24th start in State's last 25 games and his 50th start in 119 career games.
Secured five points and a trio of blocks.
Rejected multiple shots in three games this season and in seven career outings.

Cameron Matthews

Started in 95 of the team's last 98 games over the last three seasons under Coach Jans.
Competed in his program-leading 162nd game.
Has a cumulative +/- total of +657 over his last three seasons under Coach Jans.
Added seven points, a team-leading seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Brought his career steal total to 265 as he continues to build on his school record which he set during the McNeese game on 12/14.
His seven rebounds moves his career total to 840 which remains in ninth place on the program's all-time list.
The Bulldogs are 9-3 this season when Matthews leads the team in rebounding
Had two or more assists in 26 out of 29 games this season and in 95 career outings.
Grabbed at least five boards in 24 out of 29 games this season and in 91 career games.

Michael Nwoko

Made his 26th straight start and his 28th career start between State and Miami over the last two seasons.
Began the scoring with a putback dunk.
Tucked away six points and grabbed six rebounds.
Notched 15 of his 20 career games with 5+ rebounds this season in the Maroon and White.

BENCH NOTES

KeShawn Murphy collected nine points and five rebounds to pace State's bench players.
Grabbed at least five rebounds in 24 out of 29 games this season and in 32 career games.
Shawn Jones Jr. matched his SEC's season-high with 7 points coupled with five rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
Recorded multiple steals for the sixth time this season and the 15th game in his career
Tallied multiple blocks for the second time this season and the third time in his career
Hauled down at least five rebounds in five games this season and nine times over his career
Claudell Harris Jr. chipped in five points and two rebounds.
Canned at least one trey in 21 of his last 22 outings and in 27 of 29 games for the season.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Postgame Notes: No. 24 State vs. LSU

Players Mentioned

Cameron Matthews

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