Mississippi State Bulldogs Overcome Adversity for Big Win
STARKVILLE — Last night was a rollercoaster for Mississippi State’s men’s basketball team, who faced their first real challenge of the season against Southeastern Louisiana. The Bulldogs rallied in the second half to secure an impressive 80-59 victory.
The First Half: A Tale of Two Quarters
From the get-go, things looked promising for the Bulldogs. They jumped out to an early lead, showcasing some solid play. However, Southeastern Louisiana found their rhythm, closing the half with an 8-0 run. A three-pointer from CJ Booker right before the buzzer trimmed Mississippi State’s lead to just three points.
Head Coach Chris Jans expressed his frustration, stating, “Certainly disappointed with the end of the half. We just didn’t take advantage of our personnel.” His message at halftime was clear: the team needed to reestablish their dominance if they wanted to win this game.
Second Half Surge
The Bulldogs came out for the second half with a renewed energy, demonstrating why they had been unbeaten up to this point. They tightened their defense, holding the Lions scoreless for over five and a half minutes while scoring 12 straight points, which allowed them to pull ahead by 15 points.
Kanye Clary, a transfer from Penn State, contributed five points quickly during this stretch. Not to be outdone, teammate Shawn Jones Jr. racked up six points in merely 63 seconds!
Leading Scorers Shine
Josh Hubbard led the game with 23 points, an incredible feat given his slow start. Remarkably, he didn’t take a shot for the first eight minutes but found his stride, pouring in 14 points in the final 12 minutes of the first half. His shooting from behind the arc was impressive, finishing 4-for-8 in three-point attempts, while his teammates combined for just 3-for-20.
Another standout performance came from Cameron Matthews, who had 13 rebounds, three steals, and a block. He managed to nail a crucial three-pointer that jumpstarted the explosive second half run. “They played great defense in the first half. Credit to them,” Hubbard acknowledged about Southeastern Louisiana’s solid play.
Looking Ahead
With this victory, Mississippi State moved to 3-0 for the season and now sets their sights on higher challenges. The Bulldogs won’t see their home turf again until December 4, when they face off against Pittsburgh. Before then, they will head to Southaven to clash with their first high-major opponent, Utah. Coach Jans is eager to see how his team responds: “Certainly we’re going to find out a lot more about our team in the next two weeks.”
This match-up will provide the Bulldogs with an opportunity to test their mettle away from Starkville, facing stiffer competition that will surely put their skills to the test.
