WATCH: Coach Jans Postgame Presser - Ole Miss
January 18, 2026 | Men's Basketball
2025-26 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Postgame Quotes
Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss – January 17, 2026
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Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Jans
Q: What were your thoughts on tonight's game after having a double-digit lead in the first half for the third straight game with a loss at the end. What contributed to Josh Hubbard and Jayden Epps off shooting nights?
CJ: "Yeah, tonight's game unfolded much differently than the two previous games that you talked about. I didn't think our guys in those two games [Kentucky and Alabama] handled the runs by the other teams that we've already talked about, but I thought tonight they handled it a lot better. They stood their ground and even found themselves down by four pretty late in the game and stayed together. We got the stops that we needed. We just couldn't find a way to put the ball through the goal on the last couple of possessions. I didn't think, from where I sat, it was a completely different feel in our huddles compared to maybe some of our huddles in the previous two games.
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"In terms of Epps and Hubbard, yeah, they didn't have an efficient night. They just didn't. They didn't shoot the ball the way they're capable of. Everyone that's been following us knows that they're a big part of us scoring the basketball."
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Q: What do you take away from the last two opportunities to get a chance to take the lead and win the game?
CJ: "Listen, all that matters is who won or who lost. I understand that. We're going to continue to talk about the game and rightfully so, but the situational part of the game – you get to the end, and it's magnified because the time runs out. Like you said, I wouldn't change any of it with what we did, even going back to [Josh] Hubbard's three and how we generated that. Then, getting to the line. Then, getting to the cup. Again, with the right player. I'll take that scenario, 100 out of 100 [times]. I'll take that scenario in that type of game where the score was, time remaining, et cetera, 100 out of 100 [times]. Just for whatever reason, they didn't decide to let the ball go through the net."
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Q: Can you talk about the atmosphere and all the festivities leading up to the game?
CJ: "We expected that [a good crowd and atmosphere], don't take that the wrong way. It's what it has been every time. It's the rivalry game, and I think that both coaches would've said the same thing. I just hate the fact that they're having to leave after this game. It means so much to many people around here, and to not feel that winning feeling that we've had in these games at least at home since we've gotten here. This is a different feeling for all of us to walk out here tonight."
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"Certainly, with alumni weekend, we had a lot of former players back. I got to meet a lot of former Bulldogs. They had some events and, time permitting, I got to be a small part in it both yesterday and today. That part was fun. That part was cool to hear these guys talk about their experiences and their stories, I'm sure they were embellished a little bit as you get a little bit older, but that part of the weekend was very cool. Certainly, the '96 team, I think all but one or two players were here for that, and I know Coach Williams was super excited about that. I don't get to be a part of that with what happens in the game [during halftime], but hopefully that was well received too."
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Q: Jamarion Davis-Fleming played one of his best games tonight, what do you think contributed to his performance?
CJ: "I thought that Jamar was really, really good. He was dynamic, quick twitched and he was all over the court. He stuffed the stat sheet tonight with the blocked shots, the offensive rebounds and the way he was moving around on defense. Again, off the top of my head, I can't imagine at least in an impactful game like this that it was not his best game to date. With his development and with his future, it's something that we'll be talking about later."
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Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss – January 17, 2026
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Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Jans
Q: What were your thoughts on tonight's game after having a double-digit lead in the first half for the third straight game with a loss at the end. What contributed to Josh Hubbard and Jayden Epps off shooting nights?
CJ: "Yeah, tonight's game unfolded much differently than the two previous games that you talked about. I didn't think our guys in those two games [Kentucky and Alabama] handled the runs by the other teams that we've already talked about, but I thought tonight they handled it a lot better. They stood their ground and even found themselves down by four pretty late in the game and stayed together. We got the stops that we needed. We just couldn't find a way to put the ball through the goal on the last couple of possessions. I didn't think, from where I sat, it was a completely different feel in our huddles compared to maybe some of our huddles in the previous two games.
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"In terms of Epps and Hubbard, yeah, they didn't have an efficient night. They just didn't. They didn't shoot the ball the way they're capable of. Everyone that's been following us knows that they're a big part of us scoring the basketball."
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Q: What do you take away from the last two opportunities to get a chance to take the lead and win the game?
CJ: "Listen, all that matters is who won or who lost. I understand that. We're going to continue to talk about the game and rightfully so, but the situational part of the game – you get to the end, and it's magnified because the time runs out. Like you said, I wouldn't change any of it with what we did, even going back to [Josh] Hubbard's three and how we generated that. Then, getting to the line. Then, getting to the cup. Again, with the right player. I'll take that scenario, 100 out of 100 [times]. I'll take that scenario in that type of game where the score was, time remaining, et cetera, 100 out of 100 [times]. Just for whatever reason, they didn't decide to let the ball go through the net."
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Q: Can you talk about the atmosphere and all the festivities leading up to the game?
CJ: "We expected that [a good crowd and atmosphere], don't take that the wrong way. It's what it has been every time. It's the rivalry game, and I think that both coaches would've said the same thing. I just hate the fact that they're having to leave after this game. It means so much to many people around here, and to not feel that winning feeling that we've had in these games at least at home since we've gotten here. This is a different feeling for all of us to walk out here tonight."
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"Certainly, with alumni weekend, we had a lot of former players back. I got to meet a lot of former Bulldogs. They had some events and, time permitting, I got to be a small part in it both yesterday and today. That part was fun. That part was cool to hear these guys talk about their experiences and their stories, I'm sure they were embellished a little bit as you get a little bit older, but that part of the weekend was very cool. Certainly, the '96 team, I think all but one or two players were here for that, and I know Coach Williams was super excited about that. I don't get to be a part of that with what happens in the game [during halftime], but hopefully that was well received too."
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Q: Jamarion Davis-Fleming played one of his best games tonight, what do you think contributed to his performance?
CJ: "I thought that Jamar was really, really good. He was dynamic, quick twitched and he was all over the court. He stuffed the stat sheet tonight with the blocked shots, the offensive rebounds and the way he was moving around on defense. Again, off the top of my head, I can't imagine at least in an impactful game like this that it was not his best game to date. With his development and with his future, it's something that we'll be talking about later."
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Players Mentioned
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Saturday, January 17
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