Photo by: Mike Mattina/MSU Athletics
Postgame Notes: State vs. Tennessee
February 12, 2026 | Men's Basketball
TEAM NOTES
- Mississippi State was handed a 73-64 defeat by Tennessee on Wednesday evening at Humphrey Coliseum.
- The opening half featured six ties before the Volunteers closed the half by scoring 14 of the stanza's last 17 points to grab a 39-28 intermission advantage.
- Tennessee stretched the lead out to as much as 63-40 at the 10:14 mark of the second half.
- The Bulldogs ripped off a season's best 18-0 over the next 4:59 off the clock.
- Jayden Epps kickstarted the flurry with a driving layup. He and Ja'Borri McGhee sank consecutive three-pointers 37 seconds apart before McGhee added a steal and a dunk to pull State within 63-58 with 5:15 to go.
- Tennessee answered with eight straight points of its own to regain the momentum. Â
- State is 7-6 this season and 40-19 over the last four seasons under Coach Jans at Humphrey Coliseum.
- State sank 25-of-61 from the floor (41.0 percent), hit on 7-of-22 from three-point territory (31.8 percent) and connected on a 7-of-13 clip at the free throw line (53.8 percent).
- The Bulldogs are 11-8 this season and 67-26 over the last four seasons under Coach Jans when shooting 40.0 percent or higher.
- Conversely, Tennessee recorded a 27-of-62 shooting effort (43.5 percent), made 4-of-13 on its three-pointers (30.8 percent) and tallied a 15-for-18 mark at the charity stripe (83.3 percent).
- A key for the Volunteers was making 21 of their 27 baskets on the interior for a 42-24 edge in paint points.
PLAYER NOTES
Josh Hubbard
- Started his 74th consecutive game over the past three seasons (01/27/2024-02/11/2026) where he has led State in scoring during 49 of those 74 outings.
- Opened up scoring for the Bulldogs with a midrange floater of the glass and piled up 17 of the team's first 20 points of the contest. Â
- Finished with 31 points where he shot 13-of-24 from the field, 4-of-9 from beyond the three-point line and 1-of-2 from the charity stripe.
- The 31 points allowed Hubbard to surpass 500 points during his freshmen, sophomore and junior seasons. He is the 1st SEC player during the 2000s and the 7th player in SEC history to accomplish the feat.
- Secured 30+ points for the 4th time this season and the 8th time in his career.
- Collected 7 of his 8 career games of 30+ points versus SEC opponents.
- Notched double figures for the 22nd time this season and for the 85th time over his 93 career games. Â Â
- The 85 games with 10+ points allowed Hubbard to move into a 7th place tie with Jamont Gordon (2006-07-08) in the State record book.
- The junior guard now has 1744 career points and sits 95 points shy from passing Rickey Brown (1976-77-78-79) for 5th place on the program's all-time list.
- The 1744 points also allowed Hubbard to remain in 9th place on the SEC scoring list for players after their junior season. He enters the Ole Miss game 41 points shy of eclipsing Vernon Maxwell (Florida).
- Hubbard's four treys moved him to 280 career three-pointers which tied Barry Stewart (2007-08-09-10) for the program's all-time record.
- Drained multiple three's for the 16th time this season and the 75th time in his career.
- Dished out multiple assists for the 22nd time this season and the 70th time in his career.
- Returned to State's starting lineup for the first time since the Alabama game on 01/13.
- His 15th start this season and his 76th start between Illinois, Georgetown and State.
- Provided 9 points and 5 assists.
- Marked only the 5th time over the last 21 games where he was limited to under 10 points.
- Handed out 5+ assists for the 3rd time this season and the 18th time in his career.
- Appeared in State's starting five for the 21st time in 24 games this season and for the 34th time of his career.
- Registered 3 rebounds.
- Started in his 19th game this season and for the 53rd time at the Division I level between Samford, Kansas State and Mississippi State.
- Added 3 points and 6 rebounds.
- Grabbed 5+ rebounds for the 16th time this season and the 49th time in her career.
- Started for the 20th time this season and for the 87th time in his last 91 games over the last three seasons between Mississippi State and Wichita State.
- Chipped in 8 points and 3 rebounds.
- State was outscored 17-13 in bench points by the Volunteers.
- Ja'Borri McGhee turned in 6 points and a pair of steals.
- Swiped multiple steals for the 4th time this season and the 17th time in his career.
- Sergej Macura pulled down a team-leading 8 rebounds and added 2 assists.
- Led the Maroon and White in rebounding for the 5th time this season.
- Hauled 5+ or more rebounds for the 12th time this season.
- Dished out multiple assists for the 5th time this season.
- Jamarion Davis-Fleming registered 4 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks.
- Recorded a block in 19 of 24 games.
- Tallied 7 of his 11 games with multiple blocks during SEC action.
- King Grace notched 2 points and a career-high tying 2 steals.
- His 2nd game with multiple steals this season.
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Players Mentioned
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