Josh Hubbard is special. That's not a profound statement to Mississippi State basketball fans. We've known it since early in his freshman season three years ago that he was at a different level as a scorer than the vast majority of players to have come through Starkville, and he's only made it more obvious since then.
But what he did Wednesday night was truly remarkable. Hubbard went for a career-high 46 points, one shy of a school record, to single-handedly carry the Bulldogs to an upset win over Auburn, 91-85. He shot 15-27 from the floor and 10-16 from beyond the arc. His 10 made three-pointers was a school record. He also grabbed a career-high nine rebounds, had three assists, and a pair of steals with no turnovers.
Making his performance even more impressive? He scored 35 points in the first half alone! Auburn, meanwhile, had just 33 first half points total. He was outscoring the Tigers by himself! That 35 point half was the first in college basketball since 2020.
Via ESPN Research: Josh Hubbard's 35 points are the most in a first half since Luka Garza scored 36 in the first half against Southern in 2020. https://t.co/TLKPV4GFkI
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) February 19, 2026
Defensive adjustments from Auburn led to a quieter second half for Hubbard, but that didn't stop him from hitting the go-ahead shot in the final minute.
JOSH HUBBARD. AUTOMATIC. ☔️@HailStateMBK x 📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/BtXGyUadPA
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) February 19, 2026
This was now the third-straight game for Hubbard with at least 31 points, as he's now averaging an SEC-best 22.4 points per game to continue bettering what's been the most impressive season of his Bulldog career. He's had to carry Mississippi State this season, and he put the Bulldogs on his back to take down Auburn. And an NBA legend was watching him do it...
Dwyane Wade reacts to Josh Hubbard's insane performance
Josh Hubbard's big game got plenty of national attention but none more significant than that of former NBA star Dwyane Wade. The three-time NBA champion, 13-time All-Star, and Basketball Hall of Famer loved what we he saw from Hubbard.
Hahaha OMG! 32 pts in the first half!! Josh you’re on one tonite! pic.twitter.com/UOYz48Jbs0
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) February 19, 2026
It's not random that D-Wade was watching Hubbard in action. The two happen to be cousins, meeting for the first time last season when the Bulldogs played at SMU. It's an incredibly cool connection for Hubbard to have and is certainly great publicity for he and Mississippi State.
This isn't the season anyone was hoping for or expecting for the Bulldogs on the hardwood. Even after this win, they're just 13-13 overall on the season and 5-8 in the SEC. But watching Josh Hubbard remains a delight. We're lucky to have him in Maroon and White.