Mississippi State Sets Multiple Season Highs in Dominant 106-76 Win Over Tulane
The Mississippi State men's basketball team started the season 6-0 but dropped their next two games due to season lows in scoring. The Bulldogs went from No. 21 in the AP Poll to not even receiving a single vote in the most recent Top 25 list.
However, Saturday's highly anticipated matchup against 6-1 Tulane woke the offense up, as Mississippi State tallied its most points and assists of the season in the dominant 106-76 victory at the Holiday Hoopsgiving event in Atlanta, Ga. The Bulldogs' scoring total was their most away from Starkville, Miss. since 2005.
The Bulldogs set the tone immediately as forward Jimmy Bell Jr. recorded a steal on Tulane's opening possession and guard Shakeel Moore finished the play in style with a swish from behind the arc.
After a few minutes, Mississippi State found itself up 21-5 after a four-point play by sixth-man Josh Hubbard. The freshman guard has led the team in points per game through the first eight contests and the first half was no different, as he tallied a jaw-dropping 22 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field, including 5-of-6 from downtown. It was the most points in a first half by a Bulldog since 1995.
Mississippi State has been known for spreading the ball around and having several players averaging a very similar amount of points. Besides Hubbard's performance, the first half of Saturday's game was no different, as four players scored at least seven points.
The Bulldogs finished the first 20 minutes up 62-34 on a stellar 66.7 percent shooting from the field. Mississippi State's 18 assists on 23 made shots helped them outscore their 59-point totals from each of those losses in the first half alone.
Mississippi State scored so many points in the first half partly due to its speed on possessions. But the wide margin to open the second period led the Bulldogs to slow the pace and chew the clock.
Hubbard didn't see much time on the floor and ended the game with 22 points in 21 minutes. Moore, Bell and forwards D.J. Jefferies and Cameron Matthews also scored in the double-digits.
Nevertheless, the ball continued to fall into the basket, as Mississippi State's 88th point with 10 minutes remaining created a new season high. The Bulldogs' 31 assists were also their most this year.
Mississippi State moves up to 7-2 and Tulane falls to 6-2.
