Mississippi State Unable to Keep Up With Tennesse 56-68
Mississippi State couldn’t match Tennessee’s intensity, falling 68-56 in Knoxville. Just days after an impressive win over Ole Miss, the Bulldogs struggled to find a rhythm, raising concerns about how quickly they can bounce back before a crucial road test against South Carolina.
A One-Sided Affair
From the opening tip, it was clear which team had control. Mississippi State looked a step slow on both ends of the floor in the first half. Tennessee's home crowd made their presence known early from what they were seeing. Offensively, the Bulldogs couldn’t buy a bucket, shooting just 22% from the field and 20% from three. The trio of Josh Hubbard, Riley Kugel, and Keshawn Murphy combined to shoot just 5-of-21. At times, the Bulldogs were a deer in headlights, trying to find someone to initiate the offense. On the defensive end, Mississippi State had no answers for Chaz Lanier, whose early shooting display set the tone for Tennessee’s offense. Lanier poured in 14 first-half points, hitting 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. Mississippi State's turnovers continued to be an issue, as Tennessee added 12 extra points. The Volunteers dictated the first half, whether it was forcing Mississippi State into tough shots late in the shot clock or swinging the ball side to side to create open looks.
A Glimmer of Hope, but Not Enough
The Bulldogs showed some fight in the second half, briefly making things interesting. Kugel found his rhythm, scoring 9 points and going 4-of-5 from the free-throw line. Chris Harris Jr. provided a spark with his quickness, creating movement within the offense. Despite Hubbard's shooting struggles, he remained aggressive, helping Mississippi State mount a 15-4 run to cut an 18-point deficit to just 7. But Tennessee never lost its grip. Lanier added 9 more points, and Zakai Zeigler orchestrated the offense with 6 assists, sealing the win for the Vols. The Bulldogs fall now to 15-4 overall (3-3 SEC).
After the game, head coach Chris Jans reflected on his team’s struggles against Tennessee’s physicality:
“Well, they started out just like how we did at home on Saturday. This time, we were unfortunately on the wrong end of the punch. We learned our lesson from the last time we were here [at Tennessee two years ago]. So, I called a timeout a little quicker. They [Tennessee] were just ready to go. Their physicality off the ball, they were just so physically strong. We knew going in that a Rick Barnes team in this league, the way it’s officiated, it’s going to be hard. Defensively, they just move you off your spots and make every catch difficult. We tried to replicate it as best as we could, but they’re hard to play against, especially here. They just threw us off-balance, especially on offense. I thought we were okay defensively in the first half. We were assignment-correct for the most part. We had some breakdowns with [Chaz] Lanier because players like that, when they make their first shot, it changes their mindset. He made his first one and got hot from there,” said Jans.
Life in the SEC: No Time to Dwell
If there’s one thing this SEC season has shown, it’s that bouncing back quickly is a must. Every game presents a new challenge, and the Bulldogs don’t have time to dwell on this loss. Chris Jans needs to refocus his squad and remind them there’s plenty of basketball left to play. A loss in Knoxville stings, but it’s far from a season-ender.
South Carolina Showdown
Mississippi State now turns its attention to South Carolina, aiming to rebound in a critical road matchup. Tip-off is set for noon CT on Saturday at Colonial Life Arena, with the game airing live on SEC Network.
