Postgame Notes: No. 25 State vs. Texas

TEAM NOTES

No. 25 Mississippi State erased a 12-point second half deficit to force overtime before ultimately being handed an 87-82 defeat by Texas on Tuesday evening at Humphrey Coliseum during the regular season home finale.
The Bulldogs fell to 20-10 overall and 8-9 in SEC action.
Texas holds a 6-4 series advantage over State and have claimed the last five meetings.
The Longhorns scored the last 11 points of the first half to flip a 32-26 deficit into a 37-32 halftime advantage.
Texas would stretch their lead to as large as 12 points with 13:24 remaining in the second half. The Bulldogs would make their move and pulled within a single possession at 58-55 after a Josh Hubbard jumper followed by a pair of Riley Kugel free throws.
Trailing by four points with 13 seconds to go in regulation, State evened the tally at 71-71 after two Josh Hubbard free throws and a RJ Melendez steal which turned into a Kugel layup to knot the score.
The Longhorns would regroup with the opening five points of the extra session capped by a Tramon Mark three-pointer.
Once again, State would battle back and tie the score at 82-82 with 38 seconds left piecing together a Melendez layup and a Kugel traditional three-point play.
The game would be decided at the free throw line as Texas went 5-of-6, whereas the Bulldogs misfired on their two attempts.
State had six players notch double figures for the first time under Coach Jans.
The Bulldogs tallied nine steals to bring its season total to 278 which is the second most in program history through 30 games.
The Bulldogs fired in 20 of their 27 field goals on the interior en route to a 40-30 advantage in paint points.
The Maroon and White has amassed 40+ paint points 31 times with Coach Jans at the helm which includes 12 times this season. The Bulldogs are 10-2 this season and 23-8 overall when accomplishing the feat.
State is 18-6 this season and 44-13 over the three seasons under Coach Jans when scoring 70-plus points.
The Bulldogs got out in transition and converted on 27 of the game's 43 fastbreak points.
As a team, State connected on 27-of-68 from the field (39.7 percent), recorded a 6-of-25 clip from three point-territory (24.0 percent) and was 22-of-28 on its foul shots (78.6 percent).
The Bulldogs have drained 244 three-pointers this season which sits at fourth-best in program history through 30 games.
State also fell to 3-1 in 2024-25 and to 10-2 over the last three seasons under Coach Jans when sinking at least 20 free throws.
Conversely, Texas recorded a 31-for-64 shooting effort (48.4 percent), hit on a 11-for-23 three-point clip (47.8 percent), and knocked down 14-23 at the charity stripe (60.9 percent).
A key to the Longhorns win was an 8-for-11 clip from three-point territory during the second half and overtime.

PLAYER NOTES

Josh Hubbard

Started his 44th consecutive game over the last two seasons.
Notched all of his team-leading 16 points during the second half and overtime. He also added rebounds and two assists.
The 16-point performance enabled him to surpass Wiley Peck (1976-77-78-79) and Gary Hooker (1976-77-78) into 32th place on the program's all-time scoring list.
Amassed 1147 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 1147 points also are the fourth-most in program history through 65 career games trailing only Bailey Howell (1957-58-59), Jerry Jenkins (1973-74-75) and Jim Ashmore (1954-55-56).
Buried at least one trey in 43 straight games dating back to the Georgia game on 02/07/2024. The 43-game run is the longest streak in program history.
His one three-pointer brought his career total to 200 which continues to remain in 6th place at State.
Dished out multiple assists in 27 out of 30 games this season and in 45 career outings.

Riley Kugel

Started in six straight games, in 10 games total this season and for his 39th time during his career.
Added 12 points to go along with a season's best seven boards.
Also tied a season-high with four assists and swiped two steals.
Powered home double-digit points for the 15th occasion this season and for the 44th time during his career.
State falls to 11-4 this season when Kugel provides 10+ points.
Multiple assists for Kugel in 10 games this season and 32 games during his career.
Tallied 2+ steals in eight games this season and 20 times in his career.

RJ Melendez

Made his 25th start in State's last 26 games and his 51st start over 120 career games.
Began the scoring with a catch-and-shoot trey from the wing.
Secured 11 of his 15 points during the first half while recording a 3-for-4 clip on three's.
Hauled down a team-leading eight rebounds, matched a season's best with three dimes and collected two steals.
Buried multiple trifectas in eight games this season and in 26 career outings.
State is 10-5 this season and teams that R.J. Melendez are apart of are 27-16 when he scores 10+ points.
Multiple assists in seven games this season and 24 career outings.
Grabbed 2+ steals on 10 occasions this season and in 28 career games.

Cameron Matthews

Started in 96 of the team's last 99 games over the last three seasons under Coach Jans.
Competed in his program-leading 163rd game.
Added 12 points, five boards, two assists, two blocks and a steal.
State fell to 23-10 in games where Matthews provides 10+ points.
Returned to double figures for the first time since the Ole Miss game on 01/18.
Brought his career steal total to 266 as he continues to build on his school record which he set during the McNeese game on 12/14.
His five rebounds moved his career total to 845 which remains in ninth place on the program's all-time list. He is three away from surpassing Tyrone Washington (1996-97-98-99) for eighth place.
Had two or more assists in 27 out of 30 games this season and in 96 career outings.
Grabbed at least five boards in 25 out of 30 games this season and in 92 career games.
Swatted multiple shots in his eighth outing this season and in 22 career games.

Michael Nwoko

Made his 27th straight start and his 29th career start between State and Miami over the last two seasons.
Tucked away two points, two rebounds, two dimes and a steal.
Notched his third game with multiple dimes.

BENCH NOTES

KeShawn Murphy collected 13 points, seven boards and one assist to lead State's effort off the bench.
Notched his 18th game of 2024-25 and his 24th career game in double figures.
State dropped to 11-7 this season and 16-8 for his career when Murphy scores 10+ points.
Grabbed at least five rebounds in 25 out of 30 games this season and in 33 career games.
Shawn Jones Jr. set a SEC season-high with 10 points coupled with four rebounds, two steals and two assists.
His second outing this season and fourth career effort with double figures.
Recorded multiple steals for the seventh time this season and the 16th game in his career.
Tallied multiple dimes for the fifth time this season and the 16th outing of his career.
Claudell Harris Jr. chipped in two points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Recorded his 11th game this season and his 74th career outing with multiple dimes.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Postgame Notes: No. 25 State vs. Texas

Players Mentioned

Cameron Matthews

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