Five Things to Know: State vs. Carolina

Saturday, February 21

Columbia, S.C.

12 p.m.

Mississippi State

South Carolina

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Five Things to Know: State vs. Carolina

February 20, 2026 | Men's Basketball

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

COLUMBIA, South Carolina – Mississippi State men's basketball will look for its fourth SEC road win in 2025-26 when the Bulldogs travel to South Carolina for a Saturday afternoon matinee at Colonial Life Arena.

State (13-13, 5-8 SEC) is led by Josh Hubbard and Jayden Epps who have combined to rack up 36.7 points per game which is the program's top scoring duo Jeff Malone paired with Terry Lewis to average 42.0 points per contest in 1982-83.

The Gamecocks (11-15, 2-11 SEC) have dropped seven straight after knocking off Oklahoma back on Jan. 20. Four players average in double figures for Carolina which include Meechie Johnson (16.9 PPG, 4.1 APG, 1.4 SPG), Mike Staravjamts (10.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.5 APG), Elijah Strong (10.5 PPG) and Kobe Knox (10.5 PPG).

Johnson has fired in double figures in 12 straight games fueled by 7 outings of 20+ points. He posted a season-high 35 points at Texas (02/03), while Knox recently amassed a season's best 21 points at Alabama (02/14).

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 swept the regular season series last year and has won four of the six meetings between the two schools with Coach Jans at the helm. Overall, the Bulldogs possesses a 31-19 series advantage.
This season marks the first time since 2015-16 where State and Carolina haven't faced off in a home-and-home series during the regular season.

The Matchup: Mississippi State (13-13, 5-8 SEC) vs. South Carolina (11-15, 2-11 SEC)
Where: Columbia, South Carolina – Colonial Life Arena
When: Saturday, February 21, 12:01 p.m. CT
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast (https://hailst.at/49ZlmrD)

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/4qjvgsZ
Talent: Dave Neal, Perry Clark

Radio: Mississippi State Sports Network – Powered by Learfield
Talent: Neil Price
Affiliate: WZLA-FM 96.1 Lazer – Your Greatest Hits
Free Online Audio: Hail State and The Varsity Network Apps
Direct Link: https://hailst.at/4oqIT8M

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 .693 winning percentage (219-97) 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 power 4 conference level (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC) with the aforementioned .693 winning percentage. He sits behind Bill Self (Kansas), John Calipari (Arkansas), Tom Izzo (Michigan State), Kelvin Sampson (Houston), Will Wade (North Carolina State), Matt Painter (Purdue) and Nate Oats (Alabama) among coaches with at least 10 seasons of NCAA Division I experience.

In his four seasons at State, Jans has amassed 75 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 4 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. This season, he was a consensus All-SEC Preseason First-Team pick in addition to being named to the Bob Cousy, John R. Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy and Oscar Robertson Preseason Watch Lists.

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. He's on the verge of accomplishing the feat again as he enters the Carolina game 18 points and 7 assists shy away from 600-100 for this season.

Hubbard is the 1st SEC player during the 2000s and the 3rd player in SEC history to amass at least 575 points during his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons. His 1822 career points are 6th on State's all-time list and the third-highest point total in program history through 95 games.

The 1822 points for Hubbard are the most among SEC players in the 2000s and ranks 7th in SEC history for players after their junior season. He has led the Bulldogs in scoring during 51 of his 76 straight starts since the Auburn game (01/28/2024).

Hubbard is the only State player with consecutive 30+ point games during the 2000s which he's accomplished four times in his career. He has ripped off 36.3 points per game on 62.7 percent from the field (42-of-67) and 58.1 percent from three-point territory (18-of-31) over his last three contests (02/11-02/18).

For his career, Hubbard has racked up double figures in 87 of 95 outings fueled by 26 of his 43 efforts of 20+ points and 9 of his 10 performances of 30+ points are versus SEC foes where State has posted a 7-3 record. He leads all SEC players with 6 outings of 30+ points this season.

Hubbard dialed up a program SEC record with 46 points against Auburn (02/18) where he exploded for 35 points in the first half which was the most for a NCAA Division I player in a first half since Iowa's Luka Garza in 2020-21. The 46 points also were one away of Bailey Howell's program game record of 47 points versus Union in 1958-59.

This season, Hubbard ranks the SEC's top 12 in four categories: points (22.38– 1st), three-point field goals made (3.00 – 3rd), three-point percentage (35.3 – 6th) and assists (3.58 – 12th).

Hubbard has sunk multiple triples in 77 of 95 career games and hit at least one three-pointer in a SEC-record 69 consecutive games (02/07/2024-01/31/2026). The Madison native has already buried 294 treys which is State's all-time mark. He canned a program game record of 10 trifectas versus Auburn (02/18) and enters the Carolina game 13 shy of breaking into the SEC's top 10.

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 prep career as Mississippi's all-time leading scorer with 4,367 points. He broke a mark that stood for 37 years previously by State's Robert Woodard.

Jones Jr. has started 23 of 26 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).

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 12 points against Auburn (02/18) where he also matched his career marks with five assists and three blocks.

Warren has seen action in 42 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 1168 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 18 points at Ole Miss (02/14) when he scored the team's first 11 followed by 14 rebounds against Oklahoma (01/07). He has secured 7.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game over his last 15 outings sparked by all 5 of his games of 10+ points and a pair of double-doubles. Achor's 6.54 rebounds per game are 13th in the SEC.

Ali had a strong freshman finish at Arizona State where he poured in five of his seven outings in double figures against Big 12 foes. He poured in a season's best 16 points highlighted by the game-winning three-pointer with under two seconds left in overtime versus New Orleans (11/24).

Ballard has started in 89 of his last 93 games for Wichita State and Mississippi State over the last three seasons. He is 3rd among NCAA active players with a 69.1 career field goal percentage. Ballard's 1.15 blocks per game are 12th in the SEC rankings.

On the defensive end, Ballard has racked up 199 career blocks fueled by 55 performances with multiple blocks and 6 efforts of five-plus rejections. He registered his lone double-double in Maroon and White with 12 points and 10 rebounds versus SMU (11/28). Ballard's season's best of 13 points on a flawless 5-for-5 shooting effort came at LSU (01/28).

Epps has piled up 1519 career points over his 111 appearances sparked by 80 outings in double figures, 25 performances of 20-plus points and 7 efforts of 30 or more points. He has drained 202 career three-pointers highlighted by 55 games with multiple treys.

Epps is complete combo guard with 26 career games with multiple steals and 17 performances with five-plus assists. He has piled up double figures in 18 of his last 23 outings which include five of his seven outings off the bench this season.

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).

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 of 11 points at LSU (01/28).

Overall, McGhee has amassed 1,629 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 20 games sparked by multiple blocks on 12 occasions. His 1.42 blocks per game are 7th on the SEC leaderboard. The 1.42 blocks also are 2nd among SEC freshmen behind Kentucky's Malachi Moreno in addition to being tied for 5th 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.

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).

5. As a program, State has earned seven straight postseason appearances when postseason tournament has been played (4 NCAA • 3 NIT) since 2017-18 and 17 postseason appearances (10 NCAA • 7 NIT) during the 2000s.

The Maroon and White have been one of the SEC's more consistent programs going back to the 2017-18 season. State entered this season joined by Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee as the only five SEC programs to secure at least 8 conference wins during each of the last 8 seasons.

The Bulldogs have had to face off against the SEC's elite under Coach Jans. As of this weekend's midweek contests, State has played 30 regular season games against SEC ranked opponents which is highlighted by 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.