Tag: Official

by Matt Dunaway, Director/Communications
 
STARKVILLE – Another top 15 matchup is on the horizon for No. 14 Mississippi State when No. 4 Alabama makes its yearly visit to Humphrey Coliseum on Wednesday evening.  
 

State (16-4, 4-3 SEC) has won 16 of its first 20 games for the 10th time in program history and for the first time since 2011-12. The Bulldogs are one of five SEC squads (Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Texas A&M) and are one of 13 teams nationally with at least 8 combined NCAA NET Quad 1 and 2 victories on the season.
 
State is joined by Memphis and Tennessee as the only teams in the nation to collect a pair of true non-conference road wins over NCAA NET Quad 1 foes.
 

State is one of seven programs (Alabama, Auburn, Marquette, Memphis, Oregon, Texas A&M) in the country to amass at least five non-conference victories. Only the Bulldogs, Auburn and Oregon have amassed a 5-1 record or better against NCAA NET Quad 1 and Quad 2 non-conference opponents.
 
Earlier this week, State remained at No. 14 in this week’s Associated Press and advanced to No. 13 in the USA Today Top 25 rankings. The No. 14 ranking matches a program watermark in the AP poll under Coach Jans reached multiple times earlier this season.
 
With their victories over No. 18 Pitt (80-57), No. 21 Memphis (79-66) and No. 21 Ole Miss (84-81), the Bulldogs have won three games over AP Top 25 foes for the first time in program history before the month of February.
 
Respectively, the Pitt and Memphis triumphs are State’s largest home and largest road wins over AP Top 25 opponents in program history. The Bulldogs also posted a 35-point win over South Carolina which was the program’s second-largest margin of victory for a SEC opener.
 
In total, the Maroon and White have captured eight victories over AP Top 25 opponents under Coach Jans. The eight wins are already the most ranked victories for a State coach during his first three seasons in Starkville.
 
Coach Jans’ eight victories over AP Top 25 foes trail only Missouri’s Dennis Gates and are tied with Alabama’s Nate Oats for current coaches at their SEC respective schools during their first three inside the league. 
 
State has secured back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances fueled by a pair of 21-win campaigns with Coach Jans at the helm. The last time the Bulldogs collected back-to-back NCAA Tournament bids was during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons under Rick Stansbury.
 
State will look to secure three straight NCAA Tournament trips for the third time in program history this season. The last time the Maroon and White accomplished the feat was in 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05 under Stansbury.
 
The Bulldogs have piled up 80.7 points per game which is the fifth-highest mark in program history and most since 1990-91 through 20 games. The Maroon and White also canned 171 three-pointers is the third-best mark and 192 steals which is good enough for fourth place in program history through 20 games.
 
After selling out seven contests and boasting the program’s fifth highest attendance average for season in 2023-24, Humphrey Coliseum has averaged 8,538 fans which is the program’s highest mark through the team’s first nine games dating back to the 2007-08 season.
 
Fans can purchase single game tickets for the program’s remaining home games through Mississippi State’s Athletic Ticket Office at www.HailState.com/tickets or by calling (662) 325-2600 / (888) 463-2947 (GO DAWGS).
 
SERIES HISTORY
Alabama has won the last six and nine of the last 10 in the series going back to 2020-21 and holds an all-time series edge of 135-78. The Crimson Tide have been ranked in all but one of those meetings highlighted by a top 10 mark on six occasions.
 
State’s last win in the series was a 78-76 decision over No. 24 Alabama on 01/15/2022. Iverson Molinar led the way with 24 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals for the Bulldogs.
 
The Matchup: No. 14 Mississippi State (16-4, 4-3 SEC) vs. No. 4 Alabama (17-3, 6-1 SEC)
Where: Starkville, Mississippi – Humphrey Coliseum
When: Wednesday, January 29, 8:05 p.m. CT
Live Stats: StatBroadcast (https://hailst.at/MBKLiveStats)
 
TV: SEC Network (Ch. 611 – DirecTV; Ch. 404/408 Dish; Ch. 1026 MaxxSouth; Ch. 220 C-Spire)
Stream: ESPN App (Subscription Required)
Direct Link: https://hailst.at/3W0scFK
Talent: John Schriffen, Richard Hendrix
 
Radio: Mississippi State Sports Network – Powered by Learfield
Talent: Neil Price, Richard Williams
Affiliates: WZLA-FM 96.1 Starkville/West Point
Free Online Audio: Hail State and The Varsity Network Apps
Direct Link: https://hailst.at/3DWKMbF
 
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT STATE
1. Chris Jans, one of the nation’s premier bench bosses, leads the State program. He is assisted by George Brooks, David Anwar, Patrice Days, Scott Padgett and Dillon Elder.
 
Jans, a three-time WAC Coach of the Year during his tenure at New Mexico State, owns an impressive .728 winning percentage (201-75) in his 9th season as a NCAA Division I head coach. He earned his 200th career victory against Ole Miss (01/18), and his 58 wins are the most for a State coach over his first three seasons.
 
Jans is tied for fifth among NCAA active coaches with the aforementioned .728 winning percentage with Darian DeVries (West Virginia). He sits behind only Mark Few (Gonzaga), Bill Self (Kansas), John Calipari (Arkansas) and Brian Dutcher (San Diego State).

In his three seasons at State, Jans has amassed 58 victories, which holds a share of the top spot with Florida’s Todd Golden among the six, SEC third-year coaches. He is the only active coach at his respective SEC school to post a pair of 20-plus win seasons in his first two seasons inside the league with Calipari in his first season at Arkansas and Eric Musselman now coaching at Southern Cal.

 

Jans is looking to remain in the elite company of Calipari (Kentucky – 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12), Bruce Pearl (Tennessee – 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08) and Tubby Smith (Kentucky – 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000) as the only four coaches in SEC history to take their squads to three straight NCAA Tournaments with at least 21 wins in their first three seasons inside the league.

 

Nationally, Jans is joined by Jon Scheyer (Duke) and Rodney Terry (Texas) as the only third-year coaches in the nation to take their squads to the 2023 and 2024 NCAA Tournaments, respectively.

Jans is the last coach to defeat two-time defending national champion UConn led by Dan Hurley at the 2022 NCAA Tournament while at New Mexico State and was the last coach to defeat the Huskies on a neutral court, a span of 984 days, until Memphis defeated UConn at the 2024 Maui Invitational.

 

As a junior college head coach, Jans won the 1997-98 NJCAA Division II National Championship at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

 

Jans played a vital role as an assistant coach at Wichita State which was headed by a 2013 NCAA Final Four run, five NCAA Tournament trips and four Missouri Valley Conference regular season crowns before he won the 2015 Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year during his first season as a NCAA Division I head coach at Bowling Green.   

 

Jans ushered in an unprecedented run of success over a five-year span at New Mexico State where he guided the Aggies to a 122-32 record sparked by three NCAA Tournament trips. The program was in-line for a 4th NCAA Tournament appearance before the 2019-20 postseason was cancelled.

 

2. State’s returning group is fueled by Josh Hubbard, Shawn Jones Jr., Cameron Matthews and KeShawn Murphy.

 

Hubbard, a John R. Wooden Award Midseason Watch List recipient along with a Bob Cousy Award and Lute Olson Award Preseason Watch List member, registered 17.1 points per game which was tops among SEC freshmen last season.

 

Hubbard’s 923 points is second-most among State freshmen and sophomores trailing only Jamont Gordon who piled up 974 points over 65 games during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons. The 923 points also are 7th in program history through 55 career games. He enters the Alabama game 77 points shy of becoming the 45th player at State to reach 1,000 for his career.

 

Hubbard has racked up double figures in 49 of 55 outings fueled by 19 efforts of 20+ points. He has sunk multiple triples in 46 of 55 career games and has hit at least one three-pointer in 33 consecutive games which is the second-longest streak in State history. In total, he has already buried 167 treys which is already 9th on the program’s all-time list.

 

Hubbard picked up where he left off from a season ago and has poured in 16.3 points per game this season which is 10th among the SEC leaders. He fired in 20 of his 23 points after halftime versus Utah (11/17) and amassed a season-high 26 points fueled by six three-pointers against West Georgia (11/04) during the 2024-25 season opener.

 

Over his last 29 outings, Hubbard has dialed up 18.7 points per game sparked by 97 triples. He has led the team in scoring during 21 of his 36 career starts since the Auburn game on 01/28/2024.

 

The Madison native’s top SEC scoring efforts are 34 points versus No. 16 Kentucky (02/27/2024), 32 points at LSU (02/24/2024) and 28 points versus No. 17 South Carolina (03/09/2024). His best non-con scoring effort was 29 points against Northwestern (11/19/2023).

 

Hubbard, an ESPN top 100 recruit for the Class of 2023, capped his high school career as the state of Mississippi’s all-time leading scorer with 4,367 career points. He broke a state record that stood for 37 years previously held by Mississippi State’s Robert Woodard.

 

Jones Jr. has made 66 of his 79 appearances off the bench over his three seasons with the Bulldogs. He posted a career-high tying 11 points versus Prairie View A&M (12/08), while his SEC career-best is 11 points against South Carolina (02/28/2023).

 

Matthews is one of college basketball’s most versatile players and is the only active NCAA player with at least 900 points, 750 rebounds, 300 assists and 225 steals. He is one of five SEC players and one of 22 players among the Power 5 hoops conferences (ACC, BIG EAST, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC) to play their fifth season at the same school in 2024-25.

 

During his three seasons under Coach Jans, Matthews has dialed up an impressive +664 plus/minus cumulative mark when on the floor. He has been a positive plus/minus performer in 67 of 89 games, racked up 35 outings with at least +10 mark and secured at least a +20 rating on 13 occasions. The Bulldogs are 23-9 lifetime when Matthews collects 10 or more points.

    

Matthews dialed up consecutive double-doubles in SEC play this season. He fired in a career-best tying 19 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and added six steals versus No. 6 Kentucky (01/11). He also stuffed the stats sheet with 10 points, 11 rebounds and four steals against Ole Miss (01/18).

 

Matthews has posted 244 career steals which are 1st on State’s all-time list and is 3rd among NCAA active Power 5 players (ACC, BIG EAST, Big Ten, Big 12 SEC). The Olive Branch native set the State all-time mark during the McNeese game (12/14).

 

The All-SEC Defensive nod for Matthews in 2023-24 enabled him to become the fourth player in program history to etch his name to the record book. His company includes Abdul Ado (2020-21), Greg Carter (1990-91) and Jarvis Varnado (2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10).

 

Murphy has played in 60 career games and made all three of his career starts in 2024-25. He has improved his points and rebounds per game averages during each of his three seasons culminating with 10.4 points and 7.2 rebounds this season.

 

The Alabama native has pumped home seven of his top eight scoring efforts in 2024-25 ignited by a career-high 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting against No. 18 Pitt (12/04). He dialed up his first career double-double with 18 points and a career-best 14 rebounds versus Utah (11/17).

 

Murphy has been a stats sheet stuffer with 11 outings of multiple assists and seven games of multiple blocks followed by five games of multiple steals this season. His 7.2 rebounds per contest are 10th sparked by a 5.2 clip on the defensive end which also is 7th in the SEC rankings.

 

An ESPN top 100 recruit for the Class of 2021, Murphy secured a SEC career-best of 18 points and added 11 rebounds against Ole Miss (01/18). State has won 14 of 16 games over the last three seasons when he scores double-digit points and all three outings with a double-double in 2024-25.

 

3. State has received 37.3 points per game from its transfer class of Claudell Harris Jr. (Boston College), Riley Kugel (Florida), RJ Melendez (Georgia) and Michael Nwoko (Miami • Florida)

 

Harris Jr. has piled up 1,532 career points over his three stops at State, Charleston Southern and Boston College. He was named 2021-22 All-Big South Freshman Team and 2022-23 All-Big South Second Team during his first two seasons with Charleston Southern.

 

Harris Jr. made an instant impact with 20 points fueled by six trifectas in State’s opening night win over West Georgia (11/04) and tacked on a season’s best 21 points versus Prairie View A&M (12/08) during the non-conference. He is the only State player since at least 1988-89 to fire in 20 points off the bench during a season opener.

 

Overall, Harris Jr. has racked up 83 outings in double figures fueled by 19 performances of 20+ points. His teams are a combined 14-5 when he piles up 20-plus points.

 

Harris Jr. has ripped off double figures six of his last eight outings and 12 times at State which is second on the team. The Bulldogs are 10-2 when he reaches double figures. He dropped in a SEC-high 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting versus South Carolina (01/04) during the SEC opener.

 

Harris Jr.’s career-high is 34 points against High Point (01/11/2023) at Charleston Southern followed by 2023-24 season’s best of 29 points versus Lehigh (12/21/2023) during his time at Boston College.

 

Kugel, an ESPN top 75 recruit for the Class of 2022, has made it a full circle moment after he originally committed to the Maroon and White in November 2021. He captured 2022-23 All-SEC Freshman-Team honors and has totaled 821 points over 84 games between State and Florida.

 

Kugel has managed 39 games in double figures headed by 11 outings of 20-plus points. His career watermark is 25 points against No. 13 Baylor (11/24/2023), while he posted a SEC career-high of 24 points against Kentucky (02/22/2023) with the Gators.

 

Kugel has dialed up double figures in six of his last eight games and on 10 occasions with State. The Bulldogs are 8-2 in those outings. He has fired in 13.6 points per game over his last eight appearances and ripped off a SEC season-high 21 points versus No. 21 Ole Miss (01/04) which included the go-ahead three-pointer in the closing minutes of overtime.

 

Kugel was on his way to another strong effort with eight points in eight minutes versus No. 6 Kentucky (01/11) before he left the game with multiple injuries. He provided season’s best of 22 points against Butler (11/29) and Bethune-Cookman (12/30) during the non-conference.

 

Kugel and Murphy have combined for 18 outings of 10-plus points off the bench which is tied for the top among SEC duos with Chaney Johnson/Tahaad Pettiford (Auburn) along with Aden Holloway/Darrion Reid this season.

 

Like Kugel, Melendez is no stranger to the SEC after he spent last season at Georgia where the Bulldogs made a run to the 2024 NIT Final Four. He opened his collegiate career with back-to-back NCAA Tournament trips at Illinois.

 

Melendez, an ESPN top 75 recruit for the Class of 2021, has played in 110 games and improved his scoring average during each of his first four seasons sparked by 9.6 points per game at Georgia. His career-high is 35 points aided by six treys at Florida (01/27/2024).

 

Melendez has tallied 806 career points coupled with 39 career outings with 10-plus points. His teams are a combined 25-14 when he provides double figures.

 

Melendez has dialed up 12.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game over his last six outings headed by a season’s best 19 points and seven rebounds at Vanderbilt (01/07). The Puerto Rico native has rattled home double-digit points in five of his last six outings.

 

Nwoko made 49 appearances at State and Miami where two of his top five scoring efforts came against top 15 opponents last season. He tallied eight points and seven rebounds against No. 8 Duke (02/21/2024) coupled with eight points and six rebounds at No. 12 Kentucky (11/28/2023) with the Hurricanes.

 

Nwoko has six performances of 10+ points on the season. His first career double-double with career-bests of 18 points and 11 rebounds versus No. 18 Pitt (12/04). The Canada native tacked on his second double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds against Prairie View A&M (12/08).

 

Nwoko has secured seven of his top eight scoring efforts with State this season and tallied a conference career-best 11 points at South Carolina (01/25). He has provided 10 of his 15 outings with 5+ rebounds and all five of his performances with multiple blocks this season.

 

Nwoko has international experience representing Team Canada at the 2022 FIBA U18 Americas Championship and the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup.

 

Kanye Clary has played in 62 games where he garnered 545 career points between Mississippi State and Penn State. He amassed 16.7 points per game last season which ranked eight on the Big Ten leaderboard with the Nittany Lions. Clary has missed State’s last 13 games due to a leg injury (12/04-01/25).

 

Jeremy Foumena has seen action in 36 games off the bench during his time at Mississippi State and Rhode Island after a redshirt season with the Rams in 2022-23. His career-high is 16 points versus Wagner (11/14/2023).

 

4. State’s roster features freshmen EJ Paymon and Dellquan Warren along with Gai Chol and Adrian Myers who will look to build on their freshman campaigns.

 

Warren, an ESPN top 100 recruit for the Class of 2024, played his final prep season at Our Savior Lutheran in New York which is the same prep program as Dashawn Davis who was on State’s roster the last two seasons.

Warren has chipped in multiple assists in five of his appearances in addition to multiple steals on three occasions over his 12 outings off the bench. He came away with two points, three rebounds and three assists against South Carolina (01/04) during the SEC opener.

 

Chol has made 28 appearances, all coming off the bench, during his first two seasons in Maroon and White. The native of South Sudan started playing basketball around age 10 by attending camps in his home country hosted by NBA player Luol Deng. His career-highs are 11 points and six rebounds versus UT Martin (11/11/2023).

 

As announced by Coach Jans before the season opener, Myers and Paymon are expected to redshirt the 2024-25 season.

 

5. As a program, State has earned six straight postseason appearances when postseason tournament has been played (3 NCAA • 3 NIT) and 16 postseason appearances (9 NCAA • 7 NIT) during the 2000s.

 

The Bulldogs have already signed a trio of ESPN top 100 recruits for the Class of 2025 which include King Grace (No. 69), Tee Bartlett (No. 88) and Jamarion Davis-Fleming (No. 90). The only other time that State has signed three freshmen inside ESPN’s top 100 recruits was in 2015-16.

 

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the men’s basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its official social media accounts by searching ‘HailStateMBK’ on Facebook, X and Instagram.