Mississippi State Battles South Carolina in Saturday SEC Showdown

Columbia, South Carolina — Mississippi State men’s basketball heads to South Carolina on Saturday for an SEC matchup at Colonial Life Arena. The game is scheduled for noon and will be broadcast on the SEC Network, with live stats available through Stat Broadcast.

The Bulldogs (13-13, 5-8 SEC) are seeking their fourth SEC road win of the season. Led by guards Josh Hubbard and Jayden Epps, who combine for 36.7 points per game, Mississippi State aims to extend its NCAA Tournament streak. The program has made three consecutive NCAA appearances for the third time in school history, last doing so from 2002 to 2005, according to Mississippi State athletics.

South Carolina (11-15, 2-11 SEC) has lost seven straight games after a win over Oklahoma on Jan. 20. The Gamecocks feature four players averaging double figures, including Meechie Johnson (16.9 points), Mike Staravjamts (10.7), Elijah Strong (10.5) and Kobe Knox (10.5). Johnson has scored in double figures in 12 consecutive games, with a season-high 35 points against Texas on Feb. 3.

Mississippi State holds a 31-19 series advantage over South Carolina, having swept last year’s regular season series. This season marks the first since 2015-16 that the teams haven’t faced off in a home-and-home series during the regular season.

Head coach Chris Jans, in his fourth season with the Bulldogs, has compiled a 75-32 record at State. He is known as one of the NCAA’s top coaches, with a career winning percentage of .693 and a record of 219-97. Jans led the Aggies to three NCAA Tournament trips during his tenure at New Mexico State and has been recognized for his success at multiple programs.

Hubbard, a preseason All-SEC First-Team pick, is the Bulldogs’ leading scorer. He ranks among the SEC leaders in points, three-pointers, and assists, and recently set a program record with 46 points against Auburn on Feb. 18. Hubbard also leads State in three-point shooting, with 294 career treys, the most in school history.

Jayden Jones Jr. and Dellquan Warren also contribute significantly. Jones Jr. has started 23 games, improving his scoring and defense, while Warren has appeared in 42 games off the bench over two seasons. The game will feature a key matchup with South Carolina’s four double-figure scorers and could influence Mississippi State’s postseason prospects.

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