Postgame Notes: State vs. No. 21 Missouri

TEAM NOTES

No. 21 Missouri scored 16 of the last 20 points over the last 4:13 of the contest to break a tie score and emerge with an 85-73 decision over Mississippi State during Thursday's second round of the 2025 SEC Tournament.
The contest featured 17 ties and nine lead changes, the latest coming at 69-69.
The Bulldogs sit at 21-12 and will await an at-large bid to next week's NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Field of 68 will be announced Sunday at 5 p.m. CT televised by CBS.
Missouri claimed both meetings with State during 2024-25. However, the Bulldogs still hold an all-time series advantage at 14-8. Tonight's meeting was the first between the two programs at the SEC Tournament.
With Missouri leading 28-20 at the 8:19 mark of the first half, the Bulldogs held them scoreless for over three and a half minutes before tying the game, 28-28, with an and-one from KeShawn Murphy at the 4:54 to go.
The Tigers scored the last five of the opening half to take a 39-34 spread into the locker capped by a Caleb Grill triple at the buzzer.
After being fouled on a three-point attempt, Riley Kugel sank three free throws to give State a 45-43 edge with 14:40 remaining in the second half. It marked the Bulldogs first lead since a 10-9 advantage with 15:23 left during the opening half.
A key to Missouri salting the game away down the stretch was connecting on all eight of their foul shots inside the final minute.
State fell to 4-2 this season and 17-7 over the last three seasons under Coach Jans in games played at a neutral site.
The Bulldogs forced 14 of the game's 22 turnovers and converted on 15 of the contest's 26 points off miscues.
The Maroon and White has committed 351 turnovers this season, shattering the program's lowest total through 33 games.
The Bulldogs tallied 11 steals to bring its season total to 304 which is the most in program history through 33 games.
The 11 steals are also tied for the fourth most forced in an SEC Tournament game in program history.
State grabbed 14 of the game's 23 offensive rebounds which led to a 17-12 advantage in second-chance points.
The Maroon and White dropped to 11-6 in 2024-25 and 34-12 over the last three seasons under Coach Jans when making 15+ free throws.
As a team, State connected on 24-of-66 from the field (36.4 percent), recorded a 6-of-30 clip from three-point territory (20.0 percent) and was 19-of-27 on its foul shots (70.4 percent).
The Bulldogs dropped to 19-8 this season and 45-15 over the last three seasons under Coach Jans when scoring at least 70 points.
State is averaging 79.8 points through 33 games, which is the Bulldogs' highest scoring average since the 1990-91 season and fifth best in program history.
The Bulldogs have drained 277 three-pointers this season which sits at fourth best in program history through 33 games.
Conversely, Missouri recorded a 27-for-55 shooting effort (49.1 percent), hit on a 8-for-24 three-point clip (33.3 percent), and knocked down 23-28 at the charity stripe (82.1 percent).

PLAYER NOTES

Josh Hubbard

Started his 47th consecutive game over the last two seasons.
Notched a team-leading 24 points on 8-of-22 shooting.
Hubbard has recorded four games of 20+ points at the SEC Tournament and is now tied with Darryl Wilson (1994-95-96) for the most in program history.
His 24 points are the third-highest by a State player versus a ranked opponent during a SEC Tournament game.
The 24-point performance gives Hubbard 1214 career points which allows him to pass Mario Austin (2001-02-03) for 30^th place in program history.
Hubbard owns most points scored among SEC freshmen and sophomore players during the 2000s. The 1214 points are also seventh in SEC history for players during their freshman and sophomore seasons.
Hubbard also continued to build on the most points scored by a State player during their freshman and sophomore seasons in program history.
Hubbard also has notched 616 points this season, which surpassed Iverson Molinar (2021-22), his own freshman season mark (2023-24) and Darryl Wilson (1995-96) to take 7th place in program history. He is 13 points away from eclipsing Quinndary Weatherspoon (2018-19) for 6th place.
The 1214 points also are the third-most in program history through 68 career games trailing only Bailey Howell (1957-58-59) and Jerry Jenkins (1973-74-75).
Hubbard is the only player in school history to make 100 three pointers in two seasons. He's up to 104 this season and 212 for his career, which sits at sixth place in program history.
Posted double figures in 62 of 68 games with 17 of his 26 efforts of 20+ points coming against SEC opponents.
Buried at least one trey in 46 straight games dating back to the Georgia game on 02/07/2024. The 46-game run is the longest streak in program history.
Knocked down multiple triples in 29 of 33 games this season and in 58 of 68 career games.
Made at least five free throws in four of his last five outings.
Has hit five or more free throws in 14 games this season and 27 times over his career.

Riley Kugel

Started in nine straight games, in 13 games total this season and for the 42nd time during his career.
Added three points to go along with four boards, four assists, three steals and a rejection.
Notched multiple assists in 12 games this season and in 34 career outings.
Swiped multiple steals in nine outings this season and in 21 career games.

RJ Melendez

Made his 28th start in State's last 29 games and his 54th career start over 123 games.
Secured his 12 points, four rebounds and an assist.
State is 11-6 this season when Melendez scores in double figures and teams that Melendez are a part of are 27-18.
Hit five free throws in a game for the 5th time this season and the 13th career occasion.

Cameron Matthews

Started in 99 of the team's last 102 games over the last three seasons under Coach Jans.
Competed in his program-leading 166th game.
Began the scoring with a layup over the defender on the inside.
Has a cumulative +/- total of +653 over his last three seasons under Coach Jans.
Added four points, five boards, three dimes and a steal.
Brought his career steal total to 274 as he continues to build on his school record which he set during the McNeese game on 12/14.
Matthews' 274 steals steals sit him at fourth place all-time in SEC history.
Brought his season steals total to 82 which ties him with Chuck Evans (1992-93) for second place in program history.
His five rebounds moved his career total to 861 which allowed him to surpass Erick Dampier (1994-95-96) for 7th place on State's all-time list.
Grabbed at least five boards in 28 out of 33 games this season and in 95 career games.
Distributed multiple assists in 29 games this season and 98 times over his career.

Michael Nwoko

Made his 30th straight start and his 32nd career start between State and Miami over the last two seasons.
Tucked away two points, one rebound and a block in the effort.

BENCH NOTES

State's bench outscored the Tigers' reserves by a 28-20 margin.
KeShawn Murphy and Shawn Jones Jr. were responsible for all 28 of State's reserve points.
Murphy stuffed the stat sheet by equaling his SEC season-high with 18 points, led the team with eight rebounds, tied his career-best with four steals and added two dimes.
The 18 points tied the third-most by a State player off the bench during a SEC Tournament game.
His 18 points are the most for a State player off the bench since Aric Holman ripped off 20 points versus No. 8 Tennessee on 03/15/2019.
Dished out multiple dimes in 16 games this season and in 25 career outings.
Grabbed at least five rebounds in 28 out of 33 games this season and in 36 career games.
Seven of Murphy's nine career outings with multiple takeaways have come during the 2024-25 season.
Shawn Jones Jr. matched his SEC season best with 10 points to go along with two assists, two steals, two rebounds and a block.
Four of his five career outings of 10+ points have come against SEC opponents.
Tied a career high with two triples made for the second straight contest and has buried multiple in 10 career games.
Swiped multiple steals in nine outings this season and in 18 career games.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Postgame Notes: State vs. No. 21 Missouri

Players Mentioned

Cameron Matthews

Related Videos