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Mississippi State Basketball vs. Kentucky: Highlights, final score, and analysis

By Landon Young

Feb 15, 2023; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; A general overview of the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half at Humphrey Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2023; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; A general overview of the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half at Humphrey Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Mississippi State basketball team was defeated by the Kentucky Wildcats tonight, 71-68. In what could have been Mississippi State’s biggest win of the season, the Bulldogs leave the court with a tough loss.

This was a back-and-forth game from the start. At a time, Kentucky looked to take control of the game, but the Bulldogs hung around until the very last second.

It does not feel good to lose ever, but the Bulldogs showed heart tonight. The Mississippi State Bulldogs must use this loss, not as a momentum loss, but as a push forward.

Here are my early post-game thoughts:

Tolu Smith had an excellent game.

Tolu Smith came to play vs. the Kentucky Wildcats tonight at the Humphrey Coliseum. Smith finished with 5 rebounds, 1 assist (and a good one at that), and 22 points.

This might be the first loss for the Mississippi State Bulldogs where Tolu Smith had a really good game and still lost. The Bulldogs tend to rely on Tolu Smith to win basketball games, but tonight was a little different.

The Mississippi State basketball team is not out of the tournament just yet.

Chris Jans and the Mississippi State Bulldogs want to make the NCAA tournament, and they needed a win tonight. Tonight’s loss vs. the Kentucky Wildcats does not mean they are totally out of making the big dance. Here are the teams the Bulldogs have left: Ole Miss, Missouri, Texas A&M, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs can win all of those games I have listed above, but Texas A&M looks to be the toughest of the five games left remaining on Mississippi State’s basketball schedule. State has defeated the Ole Miss Rebels, the Missouri Tigers, and the South Carolina Gamecocks once this year. They look to gain two wins against those teams and gain a win vs. the Texas A&M Aggies, and the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Yes, that was a travel.

I won’t even write about it, but yes, Kentucky did travel with less than a minute left in the game tonight. Thanks, SEC refs.

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