Mississippi State players discuss tough loss to No. 15 Vanderbilt

Mississippi State guards Josh Hubbard and Jayden Epps shared their thoughts on Saturday’s 88-56 loss to No. 15 Vanderbilt during a postgame press conference. Hubbard acknowledged Vanderbilt’s strong start and disciplined defense, noting that the Commodores’ initial run put the Bulldogs in a hole they struggled to climb out of.

“They started off hot. They had a good game plan against us defensively and offensively,” Hubbard said. “It was like a fight, and they got us bloody a little bit. We just tried to crawl out of the hole after that.”

Epps emphasized the importance of maintaining energy and staying positive during difficult moments. He said the team focuses on encouraging each other to play with enthusiasm and resilience, especially when facing adversity.

“When we get down, we have to learn how to get back up,” Epps said. “We’ll keep fighting. We’ve had to do that before, and I believe we can turn it around by staying consistent and working hard every day.”

Hubbard highlighted Vanderbilt’s aggressive defense, particularly their handsy ball pressure and off-the-ball activity, which made passing and decision-making challenging for the Bulldogs. Both players stressed the need for continued effort and focus as they prepare for upcoming games.

Mississippi State will look to improve as they work through their challenging schedule, with players remaining motivated to bounce back from recent setbacks, according to the team’s comments.

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