Mississippi State beats Auburn 91-85 on late surge

Mississippi State edged Auburn 91-85 Wednesday night at Humphrey Coliseum, securing back-to-back wins. The Bulldogs built a 49-33 halftime lead behind a dominant first half from Josh Hubbard, who scored 35 points, including a school-record nine three-pointers, according to school officials.

Hubbard was hot early, tallying 26 of his team’s first 34 points in the opening 13 minutes. State improved to 10-2 this season and 59-9 under coach Chris Jans when leading at halftime. The 49 points scored in the first half marked the most during a Southeastern Conference game under Jans.

Auburn fought back in the second half, led by Keyshawn Hall, Tahaad Pettiford, and Kevin Overton, who combined for 40 of the Tigers’ 65 second-half points. Auburn took an 80-73 lead with just under four minutes remaining. However, State responded with an 18-5 run, capped by Hubbard’s go-ahead three-pointer with 44 seconds left.

State’s defense sealed the win, with three blocked shots from Achor Achor and Jamarion Davis-Fleming. The Bulldogs added six free throws in the final seconds from Shawn Jones Jr. and Ja’Borri McGhee to secure the victory. State shot 50% from the floor and 53.3% from three, matching a program record with 16 three-pointers, per school officials.

Defensively, the Bulldogs limited Auburn to 24 points in the paint and set a program best with 11 blocked shots. Auburn shot 38.7% overall and 46.2% from three, with an 80.6% free-throw percentage. State improved to 7-1 when making at least 10 three-pointers this season and 4-0 when scoring 90 or more points.

Jans praised his team’s effort, noting the Bulldogs’ season-high in blocks and their ability to execute late in the game. The victory marks a significant step in their SEC schedule as they look to maintain momentum heading into the postseason.

Source: Original Article