WATCH: Players Postgame Presser - Texas
March 04, 2025 | Men's Basketball
2024-25 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Postgame Quotes
No. 25 Mississippi State vs. Texas – March 4, 2025
Mississippi State Guard Shawn Jones Jr. and Forward RJ Melendez
Q: What was Texas able to do to keep you guys down offensively in the first half?
SJJ: "Just switching, I feel like that's what they do well. We just didn't do enough on our part. It's something we have got to work on."
Q: RJ, what is going through your mind right now after your last home game here at Mississippi State?
RJM: "Arkansas. We have to go onto the next one. This game's over. We have to get ready for a tough road win. Everybody loves March. It's a beautiful thing to be a part of, and I'm looking forward to it."
Q: RJ, this is a Texas team who might not make the NCAA Tournament. How difficult is it to navigate this gauntlet of a league?
RJM: "It's just college basketball. Anything can happen any night, and I feel like we just didn't come ready to play in the first half. That hurt us. We dug ourselves into a hole, tried to crawl back and fight at the end. It just wasn't enough."
Q: Do you feel like you're finally getting a bigger role after the last two games?
SJJ: "No, I still have the same role. Some nights just are your night, and some nights are not your night. I feel like me just playing basketball and having a love and passion for the game is what allowed the scoring to be shown tonight."
Q: Shawn, you guys have faced some adversity before the season. What was Coach Jans message to you guys after the game?
SJJ: "The same as always. Stay together. It's basketball, anything happens on any given night. We aren't perfect players. We aren't going to win all of the games. Keep your head up, keep pushing and there's a bigger picture at the end. That's March."
Q: Obviously, Texas Guard Tre Johnson is a great player. What were he and Tramon Mark able to do tonight?
RM: "Johnson's a great player. He's been doing that the whole season. We just missed some scout assignments on him and left him open a couple shots. We let him get in a rhythm. As good of a player he is and once he catches a rhythm, it's hard to stop him and get him off.
Q: What do you guys feel were some of the biggest struggles you had when it came to working in the paint, rebounding, and just second chance points?
SJJ: Definitely rebounding early. I looked up at one point, and they had 28 rebounds. I think we had like 20 or 22. I feel like that was a big part. Also, a lot of ticky-tacky fouls cost us the game, and us just not playing well down the stretch."
No. 25 Mississippi State vs. Texas – March 4, 2025
Mississippi State Guard Shawn Jones Jr. and Forward RJ Melendez
Q: What was Texas able to do to keep you guys down offensively in the first half?
SJJ: "Just switching, I feel like that's what they do well. We just didn't do enough on our part. It's something we have got to work on."
Q: RJ, what is going through your mind right now after your last home game here at Mississippi State?
RJM: "Arkansas. We have to go onto the next one. This game's over. We have to get ready for a tough road win. Everybody loves March. It's a beautiful thing to be a part of, and I'm looking forward to it."
Q: RJ, this is a Texas team who might not make the NCAA Tournament. How difficult is it to navigate this gauntlet of a league?
RJM: "It's just college basketball. Anything can happen any night, and I feel like we just didn't come ready to play in the first half. That hurt us. We dug ourselves into a hole, tried to crawl back and fight at the end. It just wasn't enough."
Q: Do you feel like you're finally getting a bigger role after the last two games?
SJJ: "No, I still have the same role. Some nights just are your night, and some nights are not your night. I feel like me just playing basketball and having a love and passion for the game is what allowed the scoring to be shown tonight."
Q: Shawn, you guys have faced some adversity before the season. What was Coach Jans message to you guys after the game?
SJJ: "The same as always. Stay together. It's basketball, anything happens on any given night. We aren't perfect players. We aren't going to win all of the games. Keep your head up, keep pushing and there's a bigger picture at the end. That's March."
Q: Obviously, Texas Guard Tre Johnson is a great player. What were he and Tramon Mark able to do tonight?
RM: "Johnson's a great player. He's been doing that the whole season. We just missed some scout assignments on him and left him open a couple shots. We let him get in a rhythm. As good of a player he is and once he catches a rhythm, it's hard to stop him and get him off.
Q: What do you guys feel were some of the biggest struggles you had when it came to working in the paint, rebounding, and just second chance points?
SJJ: Definitely rebounding early. I looked up at one point, and they had 28 rebounds. I think we had like 20 or 22. I feel like that was a big part. Also, a lot of ticky-tacky fouls cost us the game, and us just not playing well down the stretch."
Josh Hubbard - "I'm Back"
Friday, April 17
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Chris Jans & Players SEC Tournament Postgame vs. Auburn - 3/11/26
Thursday, March 12
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Chris Jans Media Session - 3/9/26
Monday, March 09
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Josh Hubbard & Ja'Borri McGhee Postgame Press Conference vs. Georgia - 3/7/26
Sunday, March 08