Missouri defeated Mississippi State 84-79 Saturday afternoon in Columbia, according to the game summary. The Tigers jumped out to an early lead with six three-pointers in the first eight minutes, establishing a 24-14 advantage.
Mississippi State responded with a 12-1 run, taking a 26-25 lead, highlighted by three-pointers from King Grace and Jayden Epps. Missouri regained control before halftime, leading 42-35 at the break.
In the second half, Missouri extended its lead to as many as 16 points with 13:03 remaining. Mississippi State fought back, with Josh Hubbard hitting a three-point play to cut the deficit to 74-71 with 2:26 left. Despite the Bulldogs’ efforts, Missouri secured the win by making free throws down the stretch.
Jayden Epps led Mississippi State with 23 points off the bench. Hubbard added 22 points, including a 20-point second half. Jamarion Davis-Fleming contributed eight rebounds and three blocks, but turnovers proved costly, with Missouri scoring 21 points off 14 Bulldogs turnovers.
Mississippi State will host Arkansas on Feb. 7 at Humphrey Coliseum. Tipoff is scheduled for 11 a.m., and the game will be televised on ESPN or ESPN2, according to team officials.
