Mississippi State Outlasts Rival Ole Miss In A Classic OT 84-81

Mississippi State secured a thrilling 84-81 overtime victory over Ole Miss, adding another chapter to this storied rivalry. The Bulldogs, led by Riley Kugel’s impactful return, dominated the rebounding battle and showcased their resilience in a high-stakes SEC matchup.

Overtime Thriller

A sold-out crowd witnessed an electrifying contest as Mississippi State opened with an 11-0 run, setting the tone with intensity. Keshawn Murphy asserted himself in the paint with six points and two rebounds, while Riley Kugel wasted no time in his return, contributing 10 first-half points. The Bulldogs led for nearly the entire half, out-rebounding Ole Miss 25-10 and scoring nine second-chance points.

The Rebels fought back in the second half, improving their ball movement and three-point shooting. They hit 53% from deep, with Matthew Murrell leading the charge with 15 points on 71% shooting. A tense final two minutes saw Mississippi State’s four-point lead shrink, culminating in a Murrell step-back three that forced overtime.

In the extra period, a crucial defensive stop shifted momentum. RJ Melendez’s chase-down block denied an Ole Miss fast break, leading to a transition three from Kugel. Ole Miss had a last-second chance to tie but failed to get off a clean shot, sealing the Bulldogs’ victory and improving their record to 15-3 (SEC 3-2).

Head coach Chris Jans reflected on the win:

“What went through my mind? That’s a whole lot of stuff. I was just happy we won. I was happy for our guys, happy for our program and the fans that were here and elsewhere. We talked with our guys about what this game meant for people in Starkville and everywhere, really, not just here. It was for the Bulldogs in our community and in our state. I’m sure for the fans, it was a heck of a college basketball game. A lot of big plays, big shots, big turnovers. With turnovers, I’ve got to give them credit for what they do. I thought we’d do better with it. Some of it was silly plays and passes, which had a lot to do with it as well,” said Jans.

Kugel-Mania

Kugel’s return was a major storyline. Before his ankle injury against Kentucky, he had been finding his rhythm in the Bulldogs’ offense. His standout performance came against Bethune-Cookman, where he posted 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting. His ability to find scoring spots is crucial for Jans’ system.

Against Ole Miss, Kugel led the team with 21 points, three rebounds, and two steals. He was a key presence on both ends, picking his spots wisely and making timely plays. His continued impact will be essential as the SEC schedule intensifies.

Jans shared his thoughts on Kugel’s return to action for the Bulldogs.

“Possibly, he’s just had to get healthy. He had two injuries in the same game against Kentucky. You know when he’s cooking a little bit and was in that game, that hurt us. We tried to get him ready for Auburn, but he couldn’t go. Then, we felt good coming into today. I’m happy that our fans get it, and they’re cheering for our guys, making them feel good. For him, it’s always been about consistency. If he can string some games together, hopefully that’ll be the case,” said Jans.

Kugel talked about his return from injury and his thought process during overtime.

I was just anxious to get back out there. I missed the last game from injury and was just happy to be back out there with the guys. It was just fun to play. And, in overtime, everyone just had to connect, talk a lot more than we were and we were going to come out with the ‘W’,” said Kugel.

Bulldogs Stay Resilsent

The SEC continues to prove itself as the toughest conference heading into March Madness. After a heartbreaking loss to Kentucky, Mississippi State could have faltered, but they responded with grit against Ole Miss.

Keshawn Murphy talked about his teammates resilency so far this season.

“It’s Jans’ trust in us, and our trust in him. We work out there as a collective, and we trust each other. We go out there and play for one another. It carries over,” said Murphy.

Jans spoke about his teams ability to bounce back quickly when their pressed against the wall.

I’ll let you guys figure that out. I didn’t tell the team that this was a must-win game, but it was for me, internally, for a lot of factors. I don’t know if we’ve had a bigger must-win game going into a game. We’re trying to make steps for where this program is going. We lost two in a row and have to go on the road for two more. This was a rivalry game. So, everything added up to this being a big turning point.” “I thought our guys came out of the gates very loose and comfortable. The crowd was unbelievable, especially the first 15 minutes of the game. I was glad our guys had that kind of mentality coming out of the gate,” said Jans.

On to Knoxville, Tennessee

Mississippi State now heads to Knoxville for a showdown against Tennessee at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2.