March 21, 2025 | Men’s Basketball

• Mississippi State returned to college basketball’s biggest stage for the third consecutive year and was handed a 75-72 defeat by Baylor during Friday’s NCAA Tournament Round of 64 action at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
• The Bulldogs finished the 2024-25 campaign with a 21-13 record.
• The two programs met for just the fifth time on the hardwood. Three of the five meetings have come in the postseason which includes the 1990 and 2018 NITs, respectively.
• State fell to 5-3 this season and to 18-8 over the last three seasons under Coach Jans in games played at a neutral site.
• With Coach Jans at the helm, the Bulldogs are 35-6 against non-SEC opponents.
• The Bulldogs tallied six steals to bring its season total to 310 which set a new program single-season record
• With Baylor holding onto a 60-49 lead with 8:10 to play in regulation, Claudell Harris Jr. and Riley Kugel knocked down three’s on back-to-back possessions to cut the lead to five.
• State continued to claw back as Josh Hubbard buried his fourth triple of the contest to move the Bulldogs within a possession at 69-67 with 1:49 left to play.
• V.J. Edgecombe of Baylor buried two free throws before Harris Jr. buried three of his own foul shots to bring the score back to 71-70.
• State nearly got the ball back on a five-second call trapping at halfcourt. However, the officials ruled a tie up possession which enabled Baylor to keep the ball.
• After two more foul shots, the Bulldogs had an attempt at a game-tying three-pointer that misfired in the closing seconds. 
• State fell to 19-9 this season and 45-16 over the last three seasons under Coach Jans when scoring at least 70 points. 
• The Maroon and White has committed 365 turnovers this season, which is a program low dating back to the 1979-80 season.
• As a team, State connected on 26-of-52 from the field (50.0 percent), recorded a 10-of-29 clip from three point-territory (34.5 percent) and was 10-of-13 on its foul shots (76.9 percent).
• State fell to 9-2 this season and 20-6 over the last three seasons under Coach Jans when shooting 50.0 percent or higher.
• The Bulldogs have drained 287 three-pointers this season which finished fourth-best in program history through 34 games.
• State averaged 79.5 points per contest which is the Bulldogs highest scoring average since the 1990-91 season and the fifth-best in program history.  
• Conversely, Baylor recorded a 27-for-62 shooting effort (43.5 percent), hit on a 6-for-25 three-point clip (24.0 percent), and knocked down 15-19 at the charity stripe (50.0 percent).
• State is 15-2 this season and 53-9 over the last three seasons under Coach Jans when shooting a higher field goal percentage than its opponent.
• Keys to the Baylor win was a 40-24 advantage in paint-points and scoring 22 of the game’s 33 points on second-chance opportunities courtesy of 16 offensive rebounds.

• Josh HubbardStarted his 48th consecutive game over the last two seasons.
• Notched a team-leading 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting and 4-9 from three-point range.
• The 26 points are the fifth most points scored in an NCAA Tournament game in program history.
• Hubbard’s 11 field goals are the most in an NCAA Tournament game in program history. The four treys also equal Lamar Peters (2019), Jamont Gordon (2008), Barry Stewart (2008) and Marcus Grant (1995) for fourth place.
• The 26-point performance gives Hubbard 1240 career points which allows him to pass Erick Dampier (1994-95-96), Dave Williams (1966-67-68) and Leland Mitchell (1961-62-63) for 27th place in program history.
• Hubbard owns most points scored among SEC freshmen and sophomore players during the 2000s. The 1240 points also are fifth in SEC history for players during their freshman and sophomore seasons.
• Hubbard also continued to build on the most points scored by a State player during their freshman and sophomore seasons in program history.
• Hubbard also has notched 642 points this season, which surpasses Quinndary Weatherspoon (2018-19) to take 6th place in program history.  
• The 1240 points also are the third-most in program history through 69 career games trailing only Bailey Howell (1957-58-59) and Jerry Jenkins (1973-74-75).
• Hubbard is the only player in school history to make 100 three-pointers in two seasons. He’s matched his freshman mark for the most in school history with 108.
• Also notched 216 for his career, which ties Tyson Carter (2017-18-19-20) for the 5th most in school history.
• Posted double figures in 63 of 69 games and notched 14 of his 27 career outings with 20+ points in 2024-25.
• Buried at least one trey in 47 straight games dating back to the Georgia game on 02/07/2024. The 47-game run is the longest streak in program history.
• Knocked down multiple triples in 30 of 34 games this season and in 59 of 69 career games.
• Claudell Harris Jr.Started in his 18th game of the season and his 82nd career outing.
• Recorded 13 points, three boards, three steals and an assist.
• Posted double figures in 17 games this season where State was 12-5.
• Finished his career with 88 outings of 10+ points.
• Knocked down at least one trey in 24 of the team’s last 26 games.
• Buried multiple trifectas in 21 games this season and in 80 career games.
• Swiped multiple steals in nine outings this season and in 33 career games.
• RJ MelendezMade his 29th start in State’s last 30 games and his 55th career start over 124 games.
• Secured his six points, two rebounds and an assist.
• Cameron MatthewsStarted in 100 of the team’s last 103 games over the last three seasons under Coach Jans.
• Competed in his program-leading 167th game.
• Finished with a cumulative +/- total of +653 over his last three seasons under Coach Jans.
• Added four points, a team-high nine boards, two dimes and a steal.
• Brought his career steal total to 275 which he continued to build on his school record which he set during the McNeese game on 12/14.
• Matthews’ 275 steals sit him at fourth place all-time in SEC history. 
• Brought his season steals total to 83 which passes Chuck Evans (1992-93) and also tied Evans’ 1991-92 season for first place in program history.
• His nine rebounds moved his career total to 870 which allowed him to surpass Tolu Smith III (2021-22-23-24) for 6th place on State’s all-time list.
• Grabbed at least five boards in 29 out of 34 games this season and in 96 career games.
• Distributed multiple assists in 30 games this season and 99 times over his career.
• Michael Nwoko​Made his 31st straight start and his 33rd career start between State and Miami over the last two seasons.
• Began the scoring with his two points at the free throw line.
• Also added one rebound and a block in the effort.
• State’s bench outscored the Bears’, 23-7.
• Riley Kugel notched 11 points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal coming off the bench after starting in 10 straight contests.
• State fell to 11-6 this season when Kugel reaches double figures.
• Hit multiple treys in 13 games this season and in 35 career games.
• Sits at 923 career points through his three seasons of college basketball.
• KeShawn Murphy tucked away 10 points and four rebounds.
• Finished the season with double figures in 14 of his last 18 outings.
• Recorded 21 of his 26 games in double figures during 2024-25.
• Shawn Jones Jr. rounded out the scoring with two points and two rebounds.