Georgia beats Mississippi State 102-96 in SEC finale
Georgia handed Mississippi State a 102-96 loss Saturday in the teams’ regular-season finale at Humphrey Coliseum. The Bulldogs secured their second win in the last nine meetings against Georgia since 2017-18, according to team sources.
Mississippi State’s 96 points marked its third-highest total in series history, while Georgia’s 102 set a new series record. The Bulldogs shot 58.6% from three-point range in the second half, sinking nine triples after making eight in the first half.
State led by as many as five points at halftime, carrying a 47-42 advantage. However, Georgia quickly tied the game and took its largest lead at 89-74 with just over five minutes remaining. Josh Hubbard nearly rallied the Bulldogs, scoring 42 points, including a three-pointer that made it 100-96 with 19 seconds left. Georgia responded with two free throws to seal the victory.
Mississippi State finished the season 8-8 at home and 10-3 under coach Chris Jans when leading at halftime. The Bulldogs shot 58.5% from the floor, including 39.1% from three, and made 84.6% of free throws. They also dominated paint points 52-28 and outrebounded Georgia 31-30.
Hubbard’s performance included 42 points, 7 three-pointers, and his 81st consecutive start. He moved into fourth place on State’s all-time scoring list with 1,925 points and is 75 points shy of reaching 2,000 career points in the SEC tournament next week. Hubbard also extended his SEC record with 309 career three-pointers, passing Vanderbilt’s John Jenkins.
Jayden Epps scored 13 points and led Bulldogs in rebounding with six. Shawn Jones Jr. contributed two points, two rebounds, three assists, and three steals after returning from injury. Quincy Ballard added eight points, four rebounds, and two steals. Georgia’s Ja’Borri McGhee scored 20 off the bench, and Jamarion Davis-Fleming had four points and six rebounds.
Georgia’s bench outscored State’s 41-27. The Bulldogs improved to 9-6 this season when outscoring opponents from the bench. Mississippi State concluded its season with an 8-8 record at Humphrey Coliseum, with a 41-21 record under Jans at home over the past four seasons.
Source: Original Article
