Make it six wins in a row for Mississippi State basketball. The Bulldogs are off to a 2-0 start in SEC play following a 72-53 home victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in a defensive battle. The squads were knotted at 27 at halftime before State's physicality and offensive adjustments allowed them to pull away. The Bulldogs are now 10-5 on the season.
Bulldog defense suffocates high-flying Oklahoma offense
Mississippi State is still searching for a true and total return to the tenacious brand of defense expected from Chris Jans teams, but their performance against Oklahoma was at least a temporary return to form. The Sooners have been among the nation's top offensive teams, entering Wednesday's matchup averaging 87 points per game, shooting 49% from the floor, and making 10.5 threes per game.
They were locked down by the Bulldogs. State held Oklahoma to just 31% shooting and 3-20 from three. They forced 13 turnovers and eight steals and recorded six blocks. It was an outstanding performance that ultimately propelled MSU to the win, and ideally, they build upon it.
Josh Hubbard continues ridiculous start to season
Bulldogs star guard Josh Hubbard has taken his game to another level in his junior season. After fantastic play throughout MSU's non-conference slate, he began SEC play by going off for 38 points in the Bulldogs' overtime win at Texas. What's better than one 30-point game to begin SEC play? Two 30-point games to begin SEC play.
Hubbard built off his performance in Austin by going for 30 points against Oklahoma. He shot 11-22 from the floor and 7-9 from the line with three assists, two steals, and no turnovers. His versatility was on full display. On a night where he struggled to find his three-point shot (1-7), he instead attacked the basket and the mid-range for a 10-15 two-point shooting performance. Few players are as good as he is at finding ways to score the basketball. He's on pace for a career year.
Mississippi State front court rounding into form
Mississippi State has struggled to find consistent production out of its front court this season with multiple new faces in the post. The last few games, however, have seen the Bulldog front court begin to solidify, and that unit was fantastic against Oklahoma.
Freshman big Jamarion Davis-Fleming had maybe his best all-around game as a Bulldog with eight points on 4-5 shooting, 10 rebounds (six offensive), and two blocks. Achor Achor didn't record a field goal but racked up 14 boards. Center Quincy Ballard had 10 points in just 16 minutes of action. They helped State own the glass (46 rebounds to 35) and the paint (36 points to 18). There's still an extent to which State is piecing it together in the post, but they're no longer going without that group making an positive impact.