The Mississippi State University men’s basketball team imposed its will against Ole Miss on Saturday, winning the rebounds and suffocating the Rebels defensively for an 81-71 win in Oxford to complete the season sweep.
Ole Miss entered the game as the slight favorite, ranked No. 19 compared to Mississippi State’s No. 22, and with a home crowd eager for payback after January’s overtime thriller in Starkville. But by the final minutes, that crowd was filing for the exits as the Bulldogs closed out one of their most complete performances of the season.
Head coach Chris Jans admitted he was worried heading into the game.
“Certainly I was very concerned about this game,” Jans said. “I just thought Ole Miss was playing a little bit better than we were.”
But it was Mississippi State that played like the better team when it mattered. The Bulldogs held the Rebels to just 38% shooting and dominated the rebounding battle 48-36. Their defensive intensity — especially along the 3-point line — was night and day compared to their recent losses.
Jans praised the 3-point defense against the Rebels.
“I don’t know how much of it was them, or us,” Jans said. “Tonight it was much better.”
The first half was tightly contested, with Ole Miss jumping out to an early lead. But Mississippi State slowly took control, closing the half strong and carrying a 40-33 advantage into the locker room. The Bulldogs then came out swinging in the second half, building a lead as large as 19 and never letting the Rebels back in it.
Sophomore guard Josh Hubbard had an off night, shooting 3-of-13, but the Bulldogs did not need a one-man show. Instead, depth and physicality carried the night.
Senior forward RJ Melendez, who had scored just four total points over the previous five games, led the team with 17. Transfer guard Riley Kugel added 11 points and a season-high four steals. Senior guard Claudell Harris Jr., coming off the bench, provided an early spark with 10 points before halftime.
Meanwhile, junior guard Shawn Jones Jr. made his impact felt in ways that didn’t show up in the box score.
Ole Miss coach Chris Beard called him “the difference in the game,” despite Jones scoring just four points. His energy on both ends helped the Bulldogs control the tempo.
“No. 5 is just a winner,” Beard said. “I don’t care what the stat line says.”
Beard’s frustration was clear after the game, placing most of the blame on himself.
“The team obviously wasn’t well-coached today,” Beard said.
For Mississippi State, this win could not have come at a better time. After a rocky stretch where they lost five of their last nine games, this performance reestablished them as a team built for March. According to ESPN’s Neil Paine, the victory all but secured MSU’s spot in the NCAA Tournament, giving them a 98% chance of making the field.
It also continued their impressive road play. Mississippi State is now 10-3 in all road games, including a 6-2 record in away road contests and a 4-1 record on neutral site games. Their only road losses come against No. 1 Auburn and No. 4 Tennessee.
With a spot in the rankings all but assured, Mississippi State has a prime opportunity to keep building momentum — and prove that their best basketball is still ahead of them.
The Bulldogs will play again Feb. 22, at the University of Oklahoma at noon and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
