Mississippi State Comes Up Short Against Auburn In The SEC Tournament Semifinals

A season-long issue of free throw shooting comes to bite the Bulldogs as they fall short to the Tigers.

NASHVILLE, Tenn - The Mississippi State Bulldogs have ended its run in the SEC Tournament after a hard-nosed battle against the number four-seeded Auburn Tigers 73-66. 

This game was a summary of many of the Bulldogs games this season. Missed shots at the charity stripe, costly turnovers, and confusing offense. For most of the game, it was a great defensive showing for the Bulldogs as well as the Tigers.

Defensively, the Bulldogs executed their game plan effectively generating 11 steals and forcing 20 turnovers. On occasions, you can catch them sleeping when the ball is popping from player to player and when that happens, the Tigers were able to get good shots off and away.

However, this game came down to the offensive side of the Ball for Mississippi State. Josh Hubbard had another 20-point performance but his shooting from behind the arch (1-8) left the Bulldogs with many empty possessions.

At times he will go on a streak of cold spurts behind the arch for a game or two and that has happened in these most recent games. Against Tennessee, he finished 3-10 from three and this afternoon he only made one. Some of them seemed forced and out of rhythm but that could be credited to the Auburn defense. 

The same could be said with Tolu Smith. He has the size and frame to go up with anyone, but at times there are moments where he will take one too many extra dribble and leave another possession empty. He finished the day 3-8 from the field and struggled at the free throw line (4-8) after having some success at the line earlier in the tournament. 

The free-throw line has been the kryptonite for the Bulldogs all season long. On the season they are shooting 67.4 percent from the line and while there is some offensive improvement from the previous season, there are still some lingering issues that can be addressed. They finished this game 

Now with the SEC Tournament over for the Dawgs, they are left to wait for their seeding on Selection Sunday where they will likely be a 9 or 10 seed for the NCAA Tournament. 

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Here's How It Happened:

Second Half

Final: Auburn 73, Mississippi State 66

Auburn Final Box Score

Mississippi State Final Box Score

5.7 - The Bulldogs are now forced to foul to get extra possession as the time is close to expiring. It has been a rock fight for most of the game but now it seems that Auburn might have closed this game out. Auburn 69, Mississippi State 66

25.3 - A wasted possession on the offensive and a terrible turnover from Jeffries that might cost the game of the Bulldogs. Auburn 67. Mississippi State 62

1:46 - Hubbard has decided to just drive into the paint now that the shots are not falling. It is working and he cut the game to three before a made corner three from Baker-Mazara. Auburn 66, Mississippi State 62

4:06 - Getting the game to a one-point game is great but the Bulldogs have to take advantage of the momentum. A bad shot selection from Hubbard allows the Tigers to get a two-possession lead once again. Auburn 61, Mississippi State 56

4:54 - The threes are starting to fall for the Bulldogs. They are on a 7-0 run with Hubbard starting to get that feeling in his step. Jeffries and Hubbard are leading the offense and they will have to keep going if they plan on overtaking the Tigers. Auburn 57, Mississippi State 56

8:34 - Hubbard has hit his first three of the game. They need him to get it coming because Auburn is starting to take control of the game. Auburn 55, Mississippi State 49

12:40 - The issues from the free-throw line have come at the worst possible time. With Hubbard not having an effective offensive game, points are struggling to come by. Auburn 47, Mississippi State 40

15:44 - Media timeout on the floor. This has been an emotional game but for what is on the line, high intensity was expected. The Bulldogs are struggling to find shots on offense with Hubbard getting blanketed so they need to find other ways to generate some points. Auburn 39, Mississippi State 35

17:03 - Jeffries gets into with Baker-Mazara and it results in a dead ball technical on both. Jeffries shoves him because of an elbow to his face. 

18:13 - The Bulldog's struggle on offense continues while Auburn has adjusted its game plan. Broome is now sticking more around the 3-point line to spread out the defense of the Bulldogs. When he gets away and makes a couple of three it can mean trouble. Auburn 36, Mississippi State 33

First Half

It is a battle this afternoon for a chance to go to the championship game between the Bulldogs and the Tigers. it is tied at the half, and the game has some positives and negatives for the Bulldogs.

A positive is that with Broome in foul trouble, Tolu Smith is playing great basketball. The Bulldogs as a whole unit rebound the ball at a high rate. 22-10 advantage at halftime with every person, outside of Keshawn Murphy having some points on the board. 

The negative is that Smith, Hubbard, and Cameron Matthews are all 1-5 from the field. That could be credited to the defense of Auburn but, they will have to get their game kickstarted in the second half if they want to come out on the other side with a victory.  The defense and rebounding are stout and if the offense can come along, this could be a victory for the Bulldogs.

Mississippi State Halftime Box Score

Auburn Halftime Box Score

Halftime: Mississippi State 31, Auburn 31

0:46.7 - Media timeout on the floor again and it looks like one of those games where it will go down to the wire. Both teams are battling in a physical contest between each. Mississippi State 29, Auburn 29

2:53 - Meida timeout on the floor. The Bulldogs are battling on the inside. Jimmy Bell Jr. has provided some great minutes on the bench by being a big body in the paint. Josh Hubbard has not even made an impact on this game but the threat of him getting hot is still a possibility for the second half. Mississippi State 28, Auburn 26

5:43 - Jeffries is playing great offensive game. he has eight points for the Bulldogs while shooting 3-3 from the field. Mississippi State 25, Auburn 25

7:55 - It has been a couple of live ball turnovers for State and Auburn has taken advantage of them on breaks. They can score on the Bulldogs when they are not set and have taken control of the game by making the last seven of their eight shots. Auburn 20, Mississippi State 19

10:48 - Media timeout on the floor. There is a lot of back and forth between both teams. Technical are being thrown around to everyone, but the Bulldogs' offense has started to sputter. They are battling on the boards but are allowing the Tigers to get points on breaks. Mississippi State 17, Auburn 15

12:44 - The Bulldogs are getting their hands on everything that comes into the paint. They are getting into the passing lanes and deflecting a lot of balls. Mississippi State 15, Auburn 8 

13:40 - A bit of a scuffle between the teams after diving for the ball. It was a dead-ball contact foul on Keshawn Murphy. He gets a technical foul and Chris Jans is not happy about it. Mississippi State 12, Auburn 8

14:46 - Media timeout on the floor. This game is starting similarly to the Tennessee game for the Bulldogs. Forcing turnovers and hard-nosed defense to get the Tigers out of rhythm. Mississippi State 9, Auburn 4 

17:27 - It is a good start for the Bulldogs. Tolu Smith is battling in the paint and getting his day started early. D.J. Jeffries hitting a corner three is also a positive. Mississippi State 6, Auburn 2

Mississippi State Starting Five	Auburn Starting Five
Dashawn Davis	Aden Holloway
Josh Hubbard	Denver Jones
D.J. Jeffries	Jaylin Williams
Tolu Smith III	Johni Broome
Cameron Matthews	Chad Baker-Mazara

NASHVILLE, Tenn - The Mississippi State Bulldogs walked into the SEC tournament uncertain if the team's hopes to reach the NCAA tournament had been squandered after finishing the regular season on a five-game losing streak. 

Two impressive victories later, the Bulldogs have all but locked in their bid to the tournament and now have their sights set on a championship. However, they also have the Auburn Tigers in their way with their eyes on a championship.

During the regular season, both teams split the series with games being won at their respective home arenas. In Nashville, the Bulldog faithful have been loud and they will continue to be as there is a great chance that Mississippi State can pull off the upset. The path has been difficult but that is the Bulldog way as they look to defeat the Tigers and head to the SEC Championship Game.

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