29 Jan 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs Guard Josh Hubbard (12) drives to the basket against Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half at Humphrey Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Wesley Hale-Imagn Pictures No. 14 Mississippi State has suffered two close losses at home this season against the top level of Southeastern Conference team.
But the league will give Bulldogs (16-5, 4-4) many more opportunities to win at home, for example Saturday afternoon against No. 20 Missouri in Starkville, Miss.
The bulldogs will try to respond positively to their 88-84 home loss to No. 4 Alabama on Wednesday. As with their defeat of 95-90 to then no. 6 Kentucky on January 11, they let a potential characteristic victory slip away.
“At this point, I would just say that we are not a top 10 team,” said Mississippi State Coach Chris Jans. “I don’t like to say or admit it because I like this team. I’m safe and believe in this group. We have to hold the course.”
The bulldogs already have a strong case for an NCAA tournament, given their victories on Memphis and Vanderbilt and at home against Pitt and Ole Miss.
Now the Mississippi State is in a stretch of four ranked teams in a span of five matches. Missouri (16-4, 5-2) has two top 10 victories this season, over Kansas at home and on Florida, in addition to victories over conference enemies Vanderbilt and Ole Miss at home.
The challenges just continue to get into Sec.
“We just have to hold the course,” said Mississippi Statekeeper Claudell Harris Jr. “Just keep your head in the right space and remember that we are still the team that has beaten ranked teams. Sec Play is a Gauntlet, and you will have your ups and downs, but at the end of the day you just have to keep fighting.
The bulldogs are led by guard Josh Hubbard, who an average of 17.3 points and 3.0 assists per match. He got 38 points against Alabama.
Keshawn Murphy (10.8), Harris (10.6) and Riley Kugel (10.2) are also on average in double numbers in points.
Missouri recovered during the period from a loss of 61-53 in Texas on January 21 by beating no. 16 Ole Miss 83-75 at home last Saturday.
After getting stuck offensively against Longhorns, the tigers restored their ball movement versus the rebels. Missouri coach Dennis Gates wants his team to attack the basket in his half-court and serve a free throw.
Against Ole Miss, Tigers did a better job of passing the ball out to the 3-point line after drawing double teams in the lane.
“I felt that there were many times where someone drove there, they played two meters, they drew two (defender), kick, kick, and we got open appearance when we attacked the color,” said Missouri Guard Caleb Grill, who got 22 against The rebels.
Missouri has been a much improved defensive team this season, which has helped them to overcome distances of cold shooting.
“Our way of thinking was not to let the defensive side of the ball be dictated whether we made or missed shots or not,” said Tigers Guard Tamar Bates, who got 26 points against Ole Miss. “Since we came in with a way of thinking to a few stops and playing defense, and to stop the man in front of us, and to help the help if someone is beaten, it gave us in turn and gave the ball energy and only helped us make pictures. “
Bates leads the balanced Missouri crime by an average of 13.5 points per match. Mark Mitchell (13.1), Grill (12.7) and Anthony Robinson II (10.2) are also on average in double -digit numbers.
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