Mississippi State holds off Southern Miss, 60-54, in exhibition game

Mississippi State freshman Josh Hubbard had a team-high 13 points and DJ Jeffries added 11 as the Bulldogs captured a 60-54 exhibition game win at Southern Miss on Sunday afternoon at Reed Green Coliseum in Hattiesburg.

Cameron Matthews and Jaquan Scott each had nine points for the Bulldogs while Shakeel Moore had eight. Scott also had nine rebounds while Matthews also finished with six rebounds, four steals, two assists and one blocked shot.

“Great thing about today is it felt like a game that was going to matter in the win-loss column for both teams,” said Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans. “We expected that with the Bulldogs coming into Southern Miss, obviously a big deal. It is why we accepted the challenge. We thought it would be great for the state of Mississippi and obviously, the most important thing was really to raise some money for the families that are struggling because of the tornadoes in the Delta.”

Jans liked what he saw from a couple of newcomers in Scott and Hubbard, as well.

“Jaquan is an excellent rebounder,” Jans added of the juco transfer. “He’s very aggressive and has been rebounding the ball since he arrived at a high rate. The game just needs to slow down for him a little bit, just getting a better understanding of the system and the expectations we have. But he obviously got a chance to help us.

“Josh doesn’t play like a freshman and it’s pretty easy to see. He’s got a cool, calm demeanor about him and just doesn’t play like a freshman. It is certainly a luxury for us.”

Mississippi State played the game without Tolu Smith and KeShawn Murphy, who are sidelined for the next couple of months with foot injuries. Guard Andrew Taylor did not make the trip to Hattiesburg due to a personal matter.

Victor Hart had 15 points to pace Southern Miss, who finished 25-7 a year ago and advanced to the NIT after winning the Sun Belt Conference regular-season championship. Donovan Ivory and Austin Crowley both had 11 for the Golden Eagles, as well.

Despite his slow start shooting, Hubbard ended the day 3 of 6 behind the arc and also made both of his free throws in the closing seconds to help seal the victory.

“My first shot hit the side of the backboard but I didn’t let that get to me,” Hubbard recalled. “I just kept shooting and my teammates kept encouraging me.”

Leading 31-27 at halftime, the Bulldogs struggled out of the second-half gates. The Golden Eagles took their first lead of the game at 32-31 following a pair of Crowley free throws with 17:31 remaining in regulation. But that momentum for Southern Miss was short-lived.

With the score knotted at 42-42, the Bulldogs held Southern Miss scoreless for more than seven minutes and reeled off 10 straight ponts for a 52-42 lead. Southern Miss did cut the deficit to 58-54 with an Ivory 3 pointer o the closing seconds but State’s Dashawn Davis sealed the win with a pair of free throws with three seconds left.

For the game, State shot 38% from the field and 38% from 3 point territory. The Bulldogs were 12-22 from the foul line and had 15 turnovers and 13 assists. The Bulldogs held a commanding 48-38 advantage on the backboards with Jimmy Bell also having nine boards for State.

“It’s preparation every day in practice,” said Scott of his rebounding. “I just focus on rebounding and playing hard. We’re dogs. We are going to come out and play hard and fight and not quit.”

Southern Miss shot 30% from the field and 33% beyond the 3 point arc. The Golden Eagles were 10 of 14 at the charity stripe and had 13 turnovers.

In the first half, Scott scored seven straight points during one stretch to give Mississippi State a 19-10 advantage. Southern Miss kept chipping away at the lead, however, and cut the deficit to 29-26 thanks to an Austin Crowley 3 pointer with 1:25 left in the half. Scott got State’s last bucket of the half and the Bulldogs lead 31-27 at the break.

In the first half, State shot 40% from the field and made 4 of 13 behind the arc. The Bulldogs were 3 of 7 from the foul line in the opening half and out-rebounded the Golden Eagles 27-19.

Southern Miss shot just 29% from the field in the first half and made 5 of 12 from 3 point range.

Mississippi State now turns its attention to the 2023-24 season opener. The Bulldogs travel to Chicago, Ill., on November 6th to face Arizona State in the Barstool Sports Invitational with an 8 p.m. tipoff time.