Mississippi State Extends Win Streak as Josh Hubbard Scores Career-High 32
BATON ROUGE, La. — Mississippi State basketball continued it impressive roll by winning its fifth-straight game, and a second road win in conference play, by defeating the LSU Tigers 87-67 thanks to Josh Hubbard.
One could argue that the freshman guard had his worst game of the season during the team's victory against Ole Miss last week, but on the bayou he showed why he is the biggest scoring threat on a nightly basis for the Bulldogs.
He had a career-high in points while leading both teams with 32, and was the first player under head coach Chris Jans to score 30+ for the Bulldogs. Hubbard shot 9-for-17 from the field and 6-for-12 from 3-point-range, while playing as if he was out to prove a point.
Moreover, he might have significantly improved Mississippi State's chances of playing in March Madness, regardless of what the Bulldogs might do in the upcoming SEC Tournament.
Hubbard wasn't alone as his partner in crime, big-man Tolu Smith III, added 19 points while coming off the bench for the second straight game. Keshawn Murphy added 11 points of his own while the State defense has started to shape into form.
The physicality of the team has turned it up a notch and players and coaches on the opposing side have started to feel it. The Tigers shot 3-for-17 from behind the arc at home despite being one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the SEC. That's a testament to the defense that Jans has both instilled, promoted and stressed.
"It's just hard work, he [Chris Jans] has a certain way he wants to do things and we believe in him, we trust in him. He's a winner and he knows what it takes to win each and every night," "Hubbard said. "Defensively you just have to bring effort and if you bring effort you will be just fine."
The Bulldogs will be back in Starkville and will be putting their five-game win streak on the line as No. 17 Kentucky visits after posting a big home victory against SEC-leading Alabama. Mississippi State will be looking to avoid the series sweep and solidify its place in the league standings on Tuesday (6:00 p.m. on ESPN).
Here's how it happened:
This story will be regularly updated throughout the game.
LSU Box Score
MSU Box Score
Second Half
Final: Mississippi State 87, LSU 67
1:36 - Chris Jans has emptied the bench as this game is practically over with.
2:11 - Hubbard has his career high with 32 points and lifts the Bulldogs to a dominant 20-5 run to this point in the game. Mississippi State 85, LSU 60
4:06 - Hubbard has 29 points (his career high) after back-to-back 3-pointers and the record for MSU storing in a game is in sight (35). He has a chance with five minutes left in the game. The Bulldogs are starting to flow on defense and run away with the game. Mississippi State 78, LSU 56
6:39 - A hard foul on the floor on Hubbard and the veterans of the team are defending him. Matthews and Smith are defending their teammate and Hubbard knocks down his free-throws. Mississippi State 69, LSU 54
7:55 - Media timeout on the floor. Smith is back in the game and his impact is felt instantly by scoring a layup and is now up to 16 points. When he starts to post up, double teams are now starting to come and it is an opportunity for anyone else on the team and this time it was Matthews who finished while getting fouled. Mississippi State 65, LSU 52
9:16 - MSU has gone into a scoring drought and has not scored in the past 2:54. Sloppy turnovers and missed shots have stumped the Bulldogs and LSU is on a 6-0 run. Mississippi State 60, LSU 50
11:34 - Media timeout on the floor. This is the time that LSU has started to go into desperation mode and start its comebacks against teams. They hit their first three of the half, the second of the game, and scored in the paint. Matthews gets another foul while in transition. Mississippi State 60, LSU 47
12:42 - LSU takes a timeout on the floor. Mississippi State has started to become the more physical team in the second half, a trend that has started to become evident during this current win streak. After his worst game all season Hubbard hits another three and now has 21 and Davis follows suit and hits one of his own and State is on a 7-0 run. Mississippi State 58, LSU 42
15:24 -Hubbard is now up to 18 points after hitting a corner three. LSU has not had a field goal in the last 2:30 but some Bulldogs are starting to get into foul trouble. Mississippi State 51, LSU 39
16:14 - Now that Matthews is back in the game, LSU has struggled to get quality shots off. They are putting up shots at the end of the shot clock of being forced to the foul line. Mississippi State 46, LSU 37
18:52 - Smith is now in double figures with 10 points and the defense of the Bulldogs is the story of the game so far. Outside the arch, the Tigers have only hit one 3-point for the game. They are starting to target Hubbard on the defensive end inside the paint. Mississippi State 44, LSU 35
First Half
Halftime: Mississippi State 40, LSU 33
Mississippi State has used its size on the offense side of the ball and they are not letting LSU get out on breaks to keep the game close. Hubbard leads both teams in scoring with 13 points and the Bulldogs will have Matthews back on the in the second half to help on the defensive end.
Halftime Stats
1:36 - If you think about a bulldog and tiger it is an obvious mismatch but Mississippi State is swarming LSU and has forced 8 turnovers in the first half. Mississippi State 38, LSU 31
2:51 - With all of the chirping going on in the game, this game started to become chippy. Matthews has only played three minutes in the game but even on the bench his impact is evident. A technical has been called on Hannibal for a push on Davis and on the other he hits a three and now the Bulldogs are on a 9-0 run. Mississippi State 36, LSU 29
4:21 - Media timeout on the floor in this back-and-forth game. Both teams are trading baskets back and forth but the Bulldogs have the advantage on offensive rebounds 9-3 and are using them to their advantage. Hannibal has 12 for the Tigers and Hubbard has 11 for the Bulldogs. Mississippi State 31, LSU 29
7:20 - Media timeout on the floor. Mississippi State is doing a fantastic job of disrupting the Tiger offense at the top of their defensive zone and from the 3-point line. MSU does have the best defending 3-point team in the SEC and is holding LSU to 1-7 from three. Matthews is animated on the bench and effective even though he is not in the game. Mississippi State 25, LSU 25
9:32 - State is missing a lot of shots around the rim. The easy "give me" points could come back to haunt them both for now, they are holding them while Matthews is on the bench for early foul trouble. Mississippi State 21, LSU 23
11:45 - Media timeout on the floor. From the looks of how this game has started, it will be a fast-paced back and forth and that could favor the Tigers. Their two most recent wins were comeback victories so they are never out of the game.
12:46 - LSU is attacking the Bulldogs on both ends of the floor and has sped the pace up on MSU. D.J. Jefferies enters the game and hits a three to stop the bleeding but turns the ball over after getting a stop. Smith is also helping on the offensive end as well. Mississippi State 16, LSU 18
15:39 - Media timeout on the floor. The Bulldogs are struggling to find shots inside because of the size that LSU can throw at Tolu Smith and Jimmy Bell. Contested shots are being forced and LSU is capitalizing on the other end. Mississippi State 8, LSU 8
17:55 - Mississippi State has started the game strong with two 3-pointers from Hubbard and Moore. The pace favors the Bulldogs but LSU have scored themselves. Mississippi State 6, LSU 4
| Mississippi State Starting Five | LSU Starting Five |
|---|---|
Shakeel Moore | Trae Hannibal |
Shawn Jones Jr. | Jordan Wright |
Josh Hubbard | Tyrell Ward |
Cameron Matthews | Derek Fountain |
Jimmy Bell Jr. | Will Baker |
Mississippi State is above .500 for the first time in SEC play (6-5) under head coach Chris Jans as the program has taken leaps and bounds in improving after his arrival last season. They are on a four-game winning streak but are on the road against an LSU team who are coming off an upset victory against No. 17 Kentucky and have won back-to-back games themselves.
The End of the season is quickly approaching and seeding in the SEC tournament is on everyone's minds with these games deciding where each team will place.
How to Watch: Mississippi State at LSU
What: Mississippi State Bulldogs (18-8, 7-6 SEC) at LSU (14-12, 6-7 SEC)
Where: Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, Miss.
When: Saturday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network
