Mississippi State Hosts No. 21 Arkansas in SEC Battle Saturday

Mississippi State men’s basketball opens the second half of its SEC schedule with a home game against No. 21 Arkansas on Saturday at Humphrey Coliseum. The game is scheduled for 11 a.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN2, with radio coverage provided by the Mississippi State Sports Network.

State (11-11, 3-6 SEC) is led by guards Josh Hubbard and Jayden Epps, who have combined for 36.1 points per game. Arkansas (16-6, 6-3 SEC) comes off a bye week and has posted a 3-5 record on the road this season. Top Razorback scorers include Darius Acuff Jr., Maleek Thomas, and Trevon Brazile, with Acuff Jr. averaging 20.3 points and 6.2 assists per game.

The Bulldogs are aiming for their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, a feat last achieved from 2001 to 2005. Mississippi State has secured three straight tournament bids for only the third time in program history, most recently during the early 2000s. Humphrey Coliseum has hosted some of the program’s most electric atmospheres, celebrating its 50th anniversary on Dec. 1.

Mississippi State has won the last five meetings against Arkansas at Humphrey Coliseum, though the series overall favors Arkansas with a 36-34 record. The last matchup saw the Bulldogs win 71-67, with Josh Hubbard hitting a go-ahead three in the final minute.

Head coach Chris Jans is in his fourth season leading the Bulldogs. Known as one of the nation’s top bench bosses, Jans has a 217-95 record overall. He earned his 200th career victory last season and has led State to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, including three straight with at least 21 wins during his first three seasons in the SEC.

Hubbard, a two-time All-SEC Second-Team selection, is a key player for State. He ranks among the SEC leaders in points per game, three-point shooting, and assists. Hubbard is the program’s second all-time leading scorer and has buried 276 three-pointers, just five shy of the school record. His performance has been instrumental in State’s recent success.

Other notable players include Shawn Jones Jr., who has improved his scoring this season and reached 100 steals in his career, and Dellquan Warren, a sophomore guard with experience off the bench. Mississippi State has added transfers from programs including Arizona State, Florida State, and Georgetown to bolster its roster for the postseason run.

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