The Mississippi State basketball team qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time on Thursday since 2009. Additionally, after only one March Madness game, it was the Bulldogs’ fourth trip back to Starkville in as many years. On Thursday at Spectrum Center, the eighth-seeded Bulldogs (21–14) were ousted from the NCAA Tournament in the opening round after falling to Michigan State (20–14), which was seeded ninth. Mississippi State trailed early by twelve. Even though the Bulldogs closed the first-half deficit to five points, they found it difficult to maintain it at ten points in the second half. Conversely, Mississippi State struggled to put together a series of stops even though Michigan State turned the ball over 16 times.
Three players for the Spartans scored in double digits as the team shot 50% from the field. Once more, Tolu Smith battles for Mississippi State. Tolu Smith, a player for Mississippi State, scored 21 points in a defeat to Kentucky on February 27. Since then, he has performed well enough to earn All-SEC accolades, averaging 10.3 points in six games before the NCAA Tournament.
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Smith only scored two points in the first half and finished with nine points on Thursday, so things remained mostly the same. 3–5 was his distance from the field. Tyson Walker and Josh Hubbard give early March Madness
Josh Hubbard, a freshman guard, has led Mississippi State to several victories this season.
March Madness was unfamiliar to him, but it didn’t change. In the first half, Hubbard scored 13 of the Bulldogs’ 15 points, making him the only reliable offensive option. Before halftime, he made five of his final seven field goals after missing his first two attempts. Tyson Walker, a guard for Michigan State, mirrored Hubbard’s early efforts. The graduate guard scored six points during the Spartans’ early 10-0 run, accounting for 10 of his 19 points in the first quarter.
Why is guard Jerkaila Jordan returning for her final season in women’s hoops?
Mississippi State trails early due to Cameron Matthews’ injury. With Mississippi State forward Cameron Matthews out due to foul problems. Michigan State opened up a lead as big as 12 points in the first half. After the game, Matthews was called for an offensive foul in less than two minutes. Before the first media break, he was substituted shortly after picking up his second. With 10:21 remaining, Michigan State was up 15–4 when he got back on the court. Before halftime, Matthews, who was a plus-2 in the first half, assisted in reducing the deficit to seven points.
Blog By:- ExpertSadar
