STARKVILLE — Josh Hubbard was at the free-throw line and just connected on his second of three free throws 3½ minutes into Saturday’s game. The whistle blew, and Riley Kugel stepped on to the court to applause from the Mississippi State basketball fans.

It was his first shift of the game and his first in a week after missing Tuesday’s loss at Auburn with an injury. But the applause was as loud as if he’d been out for a month. It was a moment of recognition from the fans of his importance to the Bulldogs.

And what ensued certainly solidified that. 

Kugel, the Florida transfer, had 21 points in No. 18 MSU’s 84-81 overtime win versus No. 21 Ole Miss (15-3, 4-1 SEC) at Humphrey Coliseum. Not only was he the game-high scorer, but he hit a clutch 3-pointer in overtime to cap a highlight-reel play between him and RJ Melendez.

Mississippi State coach Chris Jans afterward called it “by far the play of the game.”

How Riley Kugel, RJ Melendez made the play of the game

Mississippi State (15-3, 3-2) never trailed in regulation. It led by as many as 14 points in the first half, and was leading 74-71 until Rebels guard Matthew Murrell drilled a contested straightaway 3-pointer with 8.3 seconds remaining. 

Jans didn’t call a timeout, and Kugel missed a stepback 3, sending the game to overtime.

“I saw some droopy faces when it was time for me to sit down,” Jans said. “And certainly as the coach, that’s not what you’re looking for. So trying to kind of reset it. As best that I could, try to get them energized again and ready to go.”

And to make matters worse, Kugel came up limping from the shot attempt and went down the tunnel. He didn’t return until overtime, re-entering the game with 2:12 left. Ole Miss had a 77-76 lead.

“I just knew I had to get back out there,” he said. “I had twisted the same foot, but it was like I was going to do whatever I could to get back on there out on the floor.”

Forty-four seconds later, Kugel sank a 3-pointer to give MSU the lead it didn’t relinquish. 

Hubbard missed a shot near the basket and the rebound ricocheted to near midcourt. Players from both teams hit the floor but Ole Miss came away with it. Murrell bolted ahead toward the MSU hoop. As he rose for the layup, Melendez came from behind and swatted the shot off the backboard. 

The Bulldogs pushed the ball quickly the other direction. Hubbard threw a lob to Cameron Matthews, who in midair threw a pass to the corner for Kugel instead of shooting it. Kugel set his feet and scored another 3. 

“I saw a 3-on-2 transition, so I knew we had to get a bucket,” Kugel said. “Mook (Matthews) could’ve scored. He could score, but he had that much trust in me.”

Kugel also poked a steal with 20 seconds remaining and connected on both of his free throws with 11 seconds to play.

“I was just anxious to get back out there,” Kugel said. “I missed the last game. I was just happy to be back out there with the guys.”

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Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.