18 Jan 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs forward RJ Melendez (22), guard Josh Hubbard (12) and guard Riley Kugel (2) react during overtime against the Mississippi Rebels at Humphrey Coliseum. Mandatory credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn images Mississippi State couldn’t overcome a bad start in its last game.
South Carolina couldn’t get the last stop it needed in its last game.
The No. 14 Bulldogs (15-4, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) and Gamecocks (10-9, 0-6) will each look to bounce back from a loss when they meet Saturday afternoon in Columbia, SC
Mississippi State shot 22.2 percent in the first half and was outscored 34-16 at halftime en route to a 68-56 loss at No. 6 Tennessee on Tuesday. The Bulldogs closed within seven points early in the second half, but the Volunteers quickly went back up by 10 and held a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
The slow start, in which Tennessee scored the game’s first eight points, was a reversal of Mississippi State’s previous game against then. 21 Ole Miss on Saturday. In that one, the Bulldogs opened the game with 11 straight points and later prevailed 84-81 in overtime.
“They were just ready to go,” Mississippi State coach Chris Jans said of the Volunteers. “They started just like we did at home on Saturday. Unfortunately this time we were on the wrong end of the punch.”
The Bulldogs delivered plenty of punch as they defeated visiting South Carolina 85-50 in the SEC opener for both teams on Jan. 4. Mississippi State started 2-0 in league play but has since lost three of four games, each against a ranked opponent.
Josh Hubbard, who paced the Bulldogs with 14 points against Tennessee, also led the way in the first meeting with the Gamecocks, scoring 21. Mississippi State started that game with a 15-2 run and allowed just 18 in the first half.
Hubbard joins the Bulldogs in averaging 16.5 points per game, while Keshawn Murphy is averaging a team-leading 7.5 rebounds.
South Carolina, meanwhile, is still looking for its first conference win. A loss Saturday would drop the Gamecocks to 0-7 in SEC play for the first time.
They were poised to break through in their final game, but Florida’s Will Richard scored a drive with 4.8 seconds left to give the No. 5 Gators a 70-69 road win Wednesday night.
Zachary Davis led South Carolina with 22 points, while the Gamecocks’ leading scorer this season, Collin Murray-Boyles (15.3 ppg), added 14 points and eight assists.
The Gamecocks, who led by 14 points in the second half and missed a Desperation 3-pointer after Richard’s layup, have faced four ranked teams in SEC Play. Three of their conference losses have come by a combined seven points.
“This is the third game we’ve had the ball or the lead right for a minute and we just couldn’t win,” South Carolina coach Lamont Paris said.
The Gamecocks’ 71.5 scoring average ranks last in the SEC, while their 44.3 field goal percentage is second last in the conference.
South Carolina entered the game against Florida ranked fourth in the SEC and 19th in the nation averaging 24.4 free throw attempts per game. However, the Gamecocks attempted just eight free throws in the one-point loss.
Paris said it’s natural to be concerned that the mounting losses could have a negative impact on his players’ confidence, but the team still has 12 games to play before the SEC tournament.
“I think for sure you worry about that because kids’ confidence is a little more fragile in 2025,” Paris said. “Hopefully we can just turn the page.”
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