Mississippi State holds off No. 25 Texas A&M

STARKVILLE – The Humphrey Coliseum was packed on Saturday as Mississippi State hosted No. 25 Texas A&M in a sport with super NCAA Match implications.

MSU wanted a Quad 1 win to additional increase its resume. Alternative awaited. There was no denying the significance of the second.

The Dawgs did not disappoint. State defeated A&M 69-62 fueled by what might solely be described as a complete crew effort.

Tolu Smith scored a team-high 17 factors. Shakeel Moore added 14 and Cameron Matthews totaled 11. Massive moments got here all through the afternoon from D.J. Jeffries, Shawn Jones, Jr. and others. When it was all stated and performed although, MSU head coach Chris Jans indicated the true MVP – or MVPs – have been the 1000’s that jammed The Hump and made it bump.

“I simply do not know if we win this sport if we do not have that sort of crowd,” Jans stated. “I do not know if we win this sport if they do not get into the sport the best way they did and can us to get out in entrance and make the opposite crew name timeouts. I do not suppose you may place sufficient significance on that and the way helpful it was.”

The environment was certainly electrical, but it surely was powered by the play on the courtroom. The Bulldogs performed the a part of a hungry crew to perfection.

They got here out of the gates robust. Mississippi State scored the competition’s first 5 factors and by no means trailed within the first half. Moore tallied 9 factors within the contest’s first 5:04 to assist the Dawgs acquire management. MSU led by as many as 9 factors within the interval earlier than settling for a 30-28 halftime benefit.

For as a lot enjoyable because the preliminary 20 minutes have been, Jans knew the struggle was removed from over.

“There is a motive [Texas A&M] was 13-2 in [Southeastern Conference games] and had gained eight in a row [coming into Saturday’s action],” Jans stated. They seem to be a tough-minded group and have an awesome tradition. They play the fitting manner.”

Simply as Jans believed they might, the Aggies punched again.

Texas A&M went on a 16-5 run to start out the second half. When Andre Gordon hit a 3-pointer with 14:09 on the clock, Mississippi State discovered itself in a 44-35 gap.

Jans referred to as a timeout. It proved to be the turning level of the affair.

“It was time to regroup,” Jans stated. “We simply did not [start] the second half very effectively. I am undecided why, however we did not.”

The Dawgs exited the assembly renewed. Their play quickly illustrated as such.

The Aggies did not make a shot from the sphere for nearly a strong 13 minutes of motion. They made just one the remainder of the sport. It was an indication of precisely why Jans’ trademark protection has earned him the nickname of “The Dentist”. The sport’s closing stretch was definitely a painful expertise for the Aggies.

“Coach confused to us earlier than the sport it’d come all the way down to whose protection was higher,” Moore stated.

The Bulldogs rose to the problem and proved to be the hardest bunch in Maroon and White. The Dawg protection was as stingy as it has been all yr. The offense made Starkville shake with large performs down the stretch.

Jones had a key steal on one finish adopted by a jam on the opposite. Not lengthy after, a Matthews steal led to a jam from Jeffries that turned up the amount to the max within the area.

With MSU balling out on the courtroom and the gang lifting the Dawgs round it, there appeared to be no stopping State.

“That is our household proper there,” Moore stated of the followers. “That is our sixth man. I am unable to ask for a greater fanbase. They arrive and convey it day in and day trip identical to we do, and it retains us going.”

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State followers will get yet one more probability to carry their crew at residence this season. The Bulldogs return to motion on Tuesday once they host South Carolina. Tip-off is about for 8 p.m.