Mississippi State basketball lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, falling 75-72 to Baylor in Raleigh. That loss happened in spite of an incredible game from Bulldogs' guard Josh Hubbard, who put up 26 points in a great shooting performance.
Hubbard's big day made the way the game ended all the more maddening for Mississippi State fans. State had a chance at a game-tying shot at the end with plenty of time to run a set specifically to get Hubbard a look. Instead, the ball went to guard Claudell Harris. Harris' attempt flew wide-right, and the Bulldogs' season ended.
That final possession left everyone stunned. Why wouldn't you let Hubbard take the final shot with the season on the line? We now have an answer as to why things went down like they did...
Chris Jans and Josh Hubbard explain confusing final possession for Mississippi State basketball
Following their gut-wrenching loss to Baylor, Josh Hubbard and Chris Jans were, understandably, asked about Mississippi State's final possession and, specifically, why Hubbard isn't who took the last shot. According to Heat Check CBB's Brian Rauf, Josh Hubbard said that Mississippi State "wanted to take what the defense gave (them)."
Josh Hubbard on Mississippi State's final possession, and why he didn't have the last shot: "We wanted to take what the defense gave us."
— Brian Rauf (@brauf33) March 21, 2025
Obviously, Josh Hubbard was going to draw much of the defenses' attention there. They weren't going to give him a clean look if they could help it, so finding an open shooter elsewhere is understandable. The problem is, what the defense gave them still wasn't ideal.
Later in the postgame, Chris Jans provided further context on his team's final possession. Jans said the play was designed for Hubbard to get a look, as after handing it off to Claudell Harris, he would then come back around to the ball behind a double screen. But because they got a "good quick look", Harris took the shot.
Jans said that, on the final possession, the idea was to bring Hubbard back behind a double screen after giving the ball up. Added they got a good quick look. https://t.co/hGFLsYWNKX
— Brian Rauf (@brauf33) March 21, 2025
Chris Jans calling it a "good look" is certainly being generous to his team. Harris had to shoot over two defenders and was never able to get set before taking the shot. While Harris is a three-point shooter by trade and has connected on some big shots for the Bulldogs this season, there's only one player on the roster you'd trust to hit that particular shot, and it's Josh Hubbard.
Most likely, Jans was simply covering for his team there because that wasn't a situation to pull the trigger without at least trying to get the ball back to Hubbard first. Either way, it's what happened, and it's something Mississippi State is going to have to live with. They have an entire offseason to come to terms with it.