Mississippi State holds off No. 25 Texas A&M

STARKVILLE — Humphrey Coliseum was packed Saturday as Mississippi State hosted No. 25 Texas A&M in a game with tremendous NCAA Tournament implications.

MSU needs a Quad 1 win to add to its resume. Opportunity awaits. There is no denying the importance of that moment.

The Dawgs did not disappoint. State defeated A&M 69-62 powered by what can only be described as a total team effort.

Tolu Smith scored a team-high 17 points. Shakeel Moore added 14 and Cameron Matthews totaled 11. Big moments came throughout the afternoon from DJ Jeffries, Shawn Jones, Jr.. and others. When it was all said and done though, MSU head coach Chris Jans showed the true MVP – or MVPs – there are thousands who stuck The Hump and made it bump.

“I just don’t know if we won this game if we didn’t have a big crowd,” Jans said. “I don’t know if we won this game if they didn’t get into the game the way they did and we would go out in front and make the other team call a timeout. I don’t think you can give enough importance. about it and how it’s worth.”

The atmosphere was electric, but it was fueled by the play on the field. The Bulldogs played a hungry team to perfection.

They came out of the gate strong. Mississippi State scored the first five points of the contest and never trailed in the first half. Moore scored nine points in the first 5:04 of the contest to help the Dawgs take control. MSU led by as many as nine points in the period before taking a 30-28 advantage.

For as much fun as the initial 20 minutes were, Jans knows this battle is far from over.

“There is a reason [Texas A&M] was 13-2 in [Southeastern Conference games] and has won eight in a row [coming into Saturday’s action]”Jans said. They are a tough-minded group and have a great culture. They play the right way.”

Just as Jans thought, the Aggies are back.

Texas A&M went on a 16-5 run to start the second half. When Andre Gordon hit a 3-pointer with 14:09 on the clock, Mississippi State found itself in a 44-35 hole.

Jans calls a timeout. It proved to be the turning point of the affair.

“It’s time to get back together,” Jans said. “We just don’t [start] the second half was excellent. I’m not sure why, but no.

The Dawgs came out of the renewal meeting. His play was later described as such.

The Aggies didn’t make a shot from the field for nearly 13 minutes of solid action. They made only one more game. This is a demonstration of why Jans trademark defense earned him the nickname “Dentist”. The closing stretch of the game was sure to be a painful experience for the Aggies.

“Coach emphasized to us before the game that it will come down to better defense,” Moore said.

The Bulldogs rose to the challenge and proved to be the toughest group in the Maroon and White. The Dawg defense is as stingy as it has been in years past. The offense made Starkville shake it up with a big play down the stretch.

Jones has a key steal at one end followed by a jam at the other. Soon after, a Matthews steal led to a jam from Jeffries that created the maximum volume in the arena.

With MSU balling out on the court and the Dawgs crowd picking around it, there seemed to be no stopping State.

“That’s our family over there,” Moore said of the fans. “That’s our six people. I can’t ask for more fanbase. They come and bring day in and day out like we do, and that’s always what we want.”

UP NEXT

Country fans will get another chance to cheer on their home team this season. The Bulldogs return to action on Tuesday when they host South Carolina. Tip-off is set for 8 pm