No. 25 Mississippi State will get one other probability to construct momentum for the postseason when it closes its dwelling schedule towards struggling Texas in a key late-season Southeastern Convention recreation Tuesday in Starkville, Miss.
The Bulldogs (20-9, 8-8 SEC) snapped a two-game shedding streak with an 81-69 dwelling win over LSU on Saturday. Josh Hubbard scored 30 factors and Riley Kugel added 12 as Mississippi State outscored LSU by 14 factors after halftime and bounced again from a 38-point drubbing at then-No. 6 Alabama on Feb. 25.
“It was as large a recreation as we have had all yr lengthy,” Mississippi State coach Chris Jans mentioned after the win over LSU. “I put some added stress on (the workforce) as a result of I wished them to really feel that manner. I wished them to really feel prefer it was a must-win, as a result of I felt prefer it was.
“For numerous completely different causes, I wished to see how they’d act in that pressurized state of affairs — hoping that we’re in these kinds of video games right here shortly.”
Mississippi State shot 64 p.c from the ground within the second half and clinched its third consecutive 20-win season.
Saturday was Hubbard’s twenty fourth 20-point recreation of his profession, wherein the sophomore has began 43 straight video games.
“Being an entire participant is what I labored on within the offseason,” Hubbard mentioned. “Simply getting downhill, being aggressive, placing some stress on the protection.”
The Bulldogs’ last two video games are towards squads not ranked within the High 25. Three of Mississippi State’s wins in league play have come versus ranked groups.
The sport has added significance for the Longhorns (16-13, 5-11), who seemingly must win Tuesday in Starkville and Saturday versus Oklahoma at dwelling in its regular-season finale to be thought of for an NCAA Match at-large bid.
Texas has put itself on this place by shedding six of its final seven contests, together with the final three to unranked South Carolina, Arkansas and Georgia. The Longhorns regarded fully uninspired Saturday in an 83-67 dwelling setback to Georgia, falling behind by 27 factors six minutes into the second half and by no means making a severe run.
“We did not get the type of begin we wished to get off to, particularly from an offensive standpoint,” Texas coach Rodney Terry mentioned. “I really feel like we let that dictate slightly little bit of our defensive effort to start out the ballgame.”
Arthur Kaluma led the Longhorns with 15 factors whereas reserve Jayson Kent added 14 and Jordan Pope had 10. Tre Johnson, the SEC’s main scorer at 20.6 factors per recreation, was restricted to 12 factors and did not try a shot from the ground after halftime.
“We will not be having these first-half lapses after which resolve to show it up within the second half,” Texas ahead Devon Pryor mentioned. “We have to simply begin the sport off sturdy each time.”
Texas has received 5 of its eight conferences with the Bulldogs, which features a 69-55 win of their final matchup November 21, 2012, within the Maui Invitational.
–Area Stage Media