Mississippi State basketball dropped its third-straight SEC matchup on Saturday night, falling at home to rival Ole Miss in a heartbreaker 68-67. On a night where the Bulldogs honored the 1996 Final Four squad, they played more like the Rick Ray teams of 2012-2015 with a horrific offensive display.
Despite their poor shooting, State had a chance to potentially win in the final seconds. The usually-automatic Josh Hubbard had a pair of free throws attempts with 12 seconds left to try and tie or take the lead. He missed both and then would miss an attempt at a game-winner on the ensuing possession. It was MSU's first loss to Ole Miss in Starkville since 2021.
Making State's three-game losing streak all the more painful is the fact that in all three games, they held a double-digit lead in the first half. They've started games strong but have failed to maintain that momentum. The Bulldogs are now 10-8 (2-3 SEC).
Mississippi State's best players were at their worst against Ole Miss
Josh Hubbard and Jayden Epps have carried the Bulldogs for much of the season, but they each had rough showings against the Rebels. Though each reached double-figures, Hubbard with 13 and Epps with 14, they shot a combined 7-34 and 3-20 from three. Hubbard had an uncharacteristic 5-10 night at the free throw line with three turnovers.
A brilliant day from freshman Jamarion Davis-Fleming (13 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks) and strong effort from Sergej Macura (nine points, 11 boards) were not enough to make up for ugly shooting from Hubbard and Epps, as State as a team shot 37% from the floor and 19% from three. The Bulldogs can't win when both of those players have a poor showing.
Bulldogs squander a strong defensive performance
Making the loss all the more frustrating is how well the Bulldogs played defensively. They held the Rebels to 41% shooting and just 2-20 from three. State won the rebounding battle and recorded five blocks on the night. Nothing came easy for Ole Miss offensively.
The Rebels were better on the offensive end in the second half, but they certainly didn't begin shooting lights out. State played good enough defensively throughout to win this game by a wide margin. But it did not matter because of how horrific they were on the other end of the floor.
Mississippi State's slim postseason hopes are quickly fading
After a six-game winning streak and 2-0 start to SEC play, Mississippi State basketball was showing enough signs of life that turning a poor start to the season around into postseason contention wasn't out of the question. But now with a third-straight loss, the Bulldogs once again look bound for a rough season.
Though there's technically still time to turn things around, with the SEC providing plenty of opportunities to earn quality wins, it's hard to believe this Bulldogs team will be capable of winning enough games to make a good season possible. Barring an immediate turnaround, Mississippi State is in for a frustrating go of things the rest of the way.