Five Things To Know: State vs. Missouri

Saturday, January 31

Columbia, Mo.

2:30 p.m.

Mississippi State

Missouri

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Five Things To Know: State vs. Missouri

January 30, 2026 | Men's Basketball

WATCH: State vs. Mizzou [SECN]LISTEN: State Radio Network - Powered by Learfield Live Stats Notes (PDF)

by Matt Dunaway, Director/Communications

COLUMBIA, Missouri – Mississippi State men's basketball wraps up the first half of its SEC slate with at Missouri for a Saturday afternoon matinee at Mizzou Arena.

State (11-10, 3-5 SEC) is led by Josh Hubbard and Jayden Epps who have combined to rack up 35.5 points per game which is 2nd among SEC duos this season.

The Tigers (14-7, 4-4 SEC) began the season with an 8-0 mark but have lost three of their last four SEC decisions, most recently a 90-64 decision at No. 23 Alabama. Mizzou has three players averaging in double figures headed by Mark Mitchell (17.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.2 APG), Jayden Stone (14.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.1 SPG) and Jacob Crews (11.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG). Mitchell has fired in double figures in 19 of 21 games and dialed up 20+ points on nine occasions.

As a program, Mississippi State secured its third straight NCAA Tournament bid for the third time in program history during the 2024-25 season. The last time the Bulldogs accomplished the feat was in 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05.

This season, State is looking to connect four consecutive NCAA Tournament trips for the 2nd time in program history. The previous 4-year run went from 2001-02 to 2004-05 under Rick Stansbury.

The Bulldogs are one of seven SEC teams and one of 25 schools nationally with an active streak of at least three consecutive NCAA Tournament trips.

Humphrey Coliseum has been one of the nation's most electric atmospheres during the Chris Jans era where the Bulldogs posted two of the program's top six program average attendance marks in 2023-24 and 2024-25. The Hump celebrated the 50th anniversary of opening its doors on Dec. 1.

Fans can purchase single game tickets for the program's remaining home games through Mississippi State's Athletic Ticket Office at www.HailState.com/tickets or by calling (662) 325-2600 / (888) 463-2947 (GO DAWGS).

SERIES HISTORY
State has won eight of the last 11 in the series dating back to the 2018-19 season and possess a 14-8 all-time series edge. The Tigers won both meetings last season which included an 85-73 decision during the SEC Tournament 2nd Round.

The Matchup: Mississippi State (11-10, 3-5 SEC) vs. Missouri (14-7, 4-4 SEC)
Where: Columbia, Missouri – Mizzou Arena
When: Saturday, January 31, 2:31 p.m. CT
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast (https://hailst.at/3NPoRYU)

TV: SEC Network, ESPN app, www.ESPN.com/watch (Subscription Required)
Channels: Ch. 611 DirecTV • Ch. 404/408 • Dish • Ch. 1026 MaxxSouth • Ch. 220 C-Spire
Direct Link: https://hailst.at/3NlJMT4
Talent: Tom Hart, Jon Sundvold

Radio: Mississippi State Sports Network – Powered by Learfield
Talent: Neil Price, Richard Williams
Affiliate: WZLA-FM 96.1 Lazer – Your Greatest Hits
Free Online Audio: Hail State and The Varsity Network Apps
Direct Link: https://hailst.at/44JaURR

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT STATE
1. Chris Jans, one of the nation's premier bench bosses, is in his fourth season of leading the State program. He is assisted by George Brooks, David Anwar, Patrice Days, Scott Padgett and Dillon Elder.

Jans, a three-time WAC Coach of the Year during his tenure at New Mexico State, owns an impressive .698 winning percentage (217-94) in his 10th season as a NCAA Division I head coach. He earned his 200th career victory against No. 21 Ole Miss (01/18/2025).

Jans is 8th among NCAA active coaches at the major conference level (ACC, BIG EAST, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC) with the aforementioned .698 winning percentage. He sits behind Bill Self (Kansas), John Calipari (Arkansas), Rick Pitino (St. John's), Tom Izzo (Michigan State), Kelvin Sampson (Houston), Will Wade (North Carolina State) and Thad Matta (Bulter) among coaches with at least 10 seasons of NCAA Division I experience.

In his four seasons at State, Jans has amassed 74 victories which trails only Florida's Todd Golden among the six, SEC fourth-year coaches. He is the only active SEC coach at his respective school to post a trio of 20-plus win seasons during his first three seasons inside the league.

Jans remains in the elite company of Calipari (Kentucky – 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12), Bruce Pearl (Tennessee – 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08) and Tubby Smith (Kentucky – 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000) as only four out of 175 coaches in SEC history to take their squads to three straight NCAA Tournaments with at least 21 wins during their first three seasons inside the league.

Nationally, Jans is joined by Jon Scheyer (Duke) as the only NCAA fourth-year coaches to take their squads to the 2023, 2024 and 2025 NCAA Tournaments, respectively.

As a junior college head coach, Jans won the 1997-98 NJCAA Division II National Championship at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Jans played a vital role as a Wichita State assistant coach which was headed by a 2013 NCAA Final Four run, five NCAA Tournament trips and four Missouri Valley Conference regular season crowns before he won the 2015 Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year award as Bowling Green's head coach.

Jans ushered in an unprecedented run of success over a five-year span at New Mexico State where he guided the Aggies to a 122-32 record sparked by three NCAA Tournament trips. The program was in-line for a 4th NCAA Tournament appearance before the 2019-20 postseason was canceled.

2. State's returning group is fueled by Josh Hubbard, Shawn Jones Jr. and Dellquan Warren.

Hubbard, a two-time All-SEC Second-Team selection, joined Erick Dampier as the only State players to notch All-SEC status during their freshman and sophomore seasons. He is a consensus All-SEC Preseason First-Team pick this season in addition to being named to the Bob Cousy, John R. Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy and Oscar Robertson Preseason Watch Lists.

Hubbard is joined by Bailey Howell (1957-58-59) and Jamont Gordon (2006-07-08) as the lone State players to rip off back-to-back seasons of 550+ points. His 1675 career points are 6th on State's all-time list and the third-highest point total in program history through 90 games behind Howell and Jim Ashmore (1954-55-56-57).

This season, Hubbard ranks the SEC's top 15 in four categories: points per game (20.71– 3rd), three-point field goals made (2.67 – 6th), three-point field goal percentage (32.4 – 7th) and assists per game (3.57 – 13th).

Hubbard, the only major conference player (ACC, BIG EAST, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC) from last season with 600+ points and 100+ assists to return to college basketball in 2025-26, has racked up double figures in 82 of 90 outings fueled by 22 of his 39 efforts of 20+ points versus SEC foes. He has secured 15+ points and 5+ assists in 12 career outings where State has gone 8-4.

Hubbard has sunk multiple triples in 73 of 90 career games and has hit at least one three-pointer in a SEC-record 68 consecutive games. The Madison native has already buried 272 treys which is already 2nd on the program's all-time list. He is 9 triples away from breaking Barry Stewart's (2007-08-09-10) program mark.

Last season, Hubbard exploded for a career-best 38 points against No. 4 Alabama (01/29/2025). The 38 points are the most for a State player during the 2000s, and the most points in program history versus a ranked opponent. He tied his career-high with 38 points at Texas (01/03) followed by another 30-point effort versus Oklahoma (01/07). The junior guard is the only State player with consecutive 30-plus point games during the 2000s.

Hubbard is 65 points shy of his third straight season with 500+ points which would allow him to become only the 7th player in SEC history to reach the feat during his freshmen, sophomore and junior seasons. He has led the Bulldogs in scoring during 47 of his 71 straight starts since the Auburn game (01/28/2024).

Hubbard, a two-time Howell Trophy winner awarded to the state's top collegiate player and ESPN top 100 recruit for the Class of 2023, capped his high school career as Mississippi's all-time leading scorer with 4,367 points. He broke a record that stood for 37 years previously held by Mississippi State's Robert Woodard.

Jones Jr. has started 18 of 21 games in 2025-26 after he made 80 of his first 93 appearances over his first three seasons off the bench. He has improved his scoring average in all four seasons at State headed by a career-best 5.4 points per contest in 2025-26.

Jones Jr. is one of nine players in program history to see action on three NCAA Tournament squads and is the only SEC rotation player in 2025-26 to play all four seasons at the same school. He became the 31st player in program history to reach 100 steals for his career at LSU (01/28), and his 1.52 steals per game are tied for 12th in the SEC.

Earlier this season, Jones Jr. fired in a career-best 17 points versus Southeastern Louisiana (11/15) on 7-of-10 shooting fueled by a career-high three treys. His SEC career-best is 11 points against South Carolina (02/28/2023).

Warren has seen action in 40 games off the bench over the last two seasons. The sophomore guard equaled his career-best with five points versus North Alabama (11/05) to begin the 2025-26 campaign followed by another five-point effort against San Francisco (12/07).

3. State's transfer class includes Achor Achor (Samford • Kansas State), Amier Ali (Arizona State), Quincy Ballard (Florida State • Wichita State), Jayden Epps (Georgetown • Illinois), Sergej Macura (KK Mega Bemax • Serbia) (Ja'Borri McGhee (UAB) Brandon Walker (UT-Arlington • Montana State).

Achor has collected 1121 points over his two junior college seasons and his four seasons at the NCAA Division I level. His best season came in 2023-24 as a Lou Henson Award finalist where he averaged 16.1 points per contest as one of the nation's top mid-major player while at Samford.

Achor's best effort at State was 13 points at Kentucky (01/10) followed by 14 rebounds against Oklahoma (01/07). He has secured 7.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game over his last 10 outings sparked by a pair of double-doubles. Achor's 6.76 rebounds per game are 13th in the SEC.

Ali came on strong towards the end of freshmen campaign at Arizona State where he poured in five of his 7 outings in double figures against Big 12 foes. He poured in a season's best 16 points, eight during the extra session, highlighted by the game-winning three-pointer with under two seconds left in overtime versus New Orleans (11/24).

Ballard has started in 84 of his last 88 games for Wichita State and Mississippi State over the last three seasons. He is 3rd among NCAA active players with a 69.3 career field goal percentage. Ballard's 6.81 rebounds per game are 12th, while his 1.19 blocks per game are 13th in the SEC rankings.

On the defensive end, Ballard has racked up 196 career blocks fueled by 54 performances with multiple blocks and six efforts of five-plus rejections. He registered his first double-double in Maroon and White with 12 points and 10 rebounds versus SMU (11/28). Ballard's season's best is 13 points on a flawless 5-for-5 shooting effort at LSU (01/28).

Epps has piled up 1459 career points over his 106 appearances sparked by 77 outings in double figures, 24 performances of 20-plus points and seven efforts of 30 or more points. He has drained 193 career three-pointers highlighted by 53 games with multiple treys.

Epps is complete combo guard with 25 career games with multiple steals and 17 performances with five-plus assists. He has piled up double figures in 15 of his last 18 outings. Epps ranks among the SEC's top 15 with 2.05 three's made per contest (15th).

Macura's KK Mega Bemax (Serbia) fellow starting five members are all playing major conference basketball this season: Andrija Jelavic (Kentucky), Filip Jovic (Auburn), Timotej Malovec (Miami) and Mihailo Petrovic (Illinois). He represented his native Slovenia at multiple FIBA events and won a silver medal at the 2024 U20 EuroBasket Championships.

Macura provided a season's best 12 points against Long Island (12/16) and grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds versus North Alabama (11/05) during the non-conference. He amassed his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds at LSU (01/28). Macura is averaging 7.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest over his last 10 appearances.

McGhee has ripped off double figures 8 times in the Maroon and White this season. State and UAB have won 21 of 29 games over the last two seasons where he scored 10 or more points. He came away with a SEC season's best 11 points at LSU (01/28).

Overall, McGhee has amassed 1,598 career points which also includes two junior college seasons. He exploded for 19 of his career-high 29 points against Utah (12/13) during the second half. The 29 points are tied with Josh Hubbard and Tony Watts for the most scored by a State player off the bench going back to 1989-90.

Walker, a two-time All-Big Sky Honorable Mention pick, has dialed up 52 of his 60 career outings over his last three seasons. Overall, he has produced 1,183 points over his four-year career. Walker poured in a season's best 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting at Texas A&M (01/21).

4. State's freshmen class features King Grace, Jamarion Davis-Fleming, Tee Barlett and Cameren Paul were ranked No. 12 nationally and fifth-best among SEC schools by ESPN's Classes for 2025.

Davis-Fleming is consensus four-star prospect as the state of Mississippi's top prospect while playing at Canton High School. He was rated No. 97 in ESPN's Top 100 for the Class of 2025.
The 2024-25 Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year posted 24.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 blocks per game as the 2024-25 Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Mississippi.

Davis-Fleming has secured a block in 16 games sparked by multiple blocks on eight occasions on the defensive end this season. His 1.33 blocks per game are 10th on the SEC leaderboard. The 1.33 blocks also are 2nd among SEC freshmen behind Kentucky's Malachi Moreno in addition to being 7th among major conference freshmen (ACC, BIG EAST, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC).

Davis-Fleming fired in a season-high 13 points against Ole Miss (01/17) after he garnered 11 points at Georgia Tech (12/03) during the ACC/SEC Challenge. He collected a season's best 10 rebounds versus Oklahoma (01/07).

Grace is another consensus four-star prospect who played his final high school season at Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy based in Dallas, Texas. He ranked No. 75 in ESPN's Top 100 for the Class of 2025 and posted 24.3 points per game as a senior where he helped his team capture the EIBC Championship.

Grace's top scoring effort is 14 points against Alabama State (12/29) followed by a SEC season's best 13-point effort at Texas A&M (01/21). He has accounted for 9.7 points per contest over his last three appearances.

5. As a program, State has earned seven straight postseason appearances when postseason tournament has been played (4 NCAA • 3 NIT) and 17 postseason appearances (10 NCAA • 7 NIT) during the 2000s.

The Bulldogs have had to face off against the SEC's elite under Coach Jans. As of 01/31, State has played 29 regular season games against SEC ranked opponents which includes a league-best 16 SEC regular season matchups versus AP Top 10 foes over the last four seasons.

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its official social media accounts by searching 'HailStateMBK' on Facebook, X and Instagram.