Josh Hubbard found himself open with the basketball underneath the basket. It was an open layup, with his defender a few steps behind in the dust. 

The Mississippi State star leapt, but kissed the ball too hard off the glass and it fell off the rim. An open layup, missed. 

It was that sort of game for Hubbard. And in reality, it’s been that sort of two months for Hubbard, who’s shooting slump continued on Tuesday. The No. 18 Bulldogs (14-3, 2-2 SEC) were smacked 88-66 at No. 1 Auburn (16-1, 4-0) for their second straight loss. Although Hubbard led them in scoring with 17 points, he shot 2-of-12 from the field, missing his first seven shots until 8:09 remained in the game. 

How concerned should Mississippi State be? Here’s a look at the numbers. 

What Josh Hubbard’s stats say

Hubbard is actually shooting more efficiently than his breakout freshman season. After Tuesday, the sophomore guard is shooting 40.7% from the field and 36.1% from 3. That’s up 2.2% from the field and 0.6% from 3-point range from last season. His 17.0 points per game are tops on the team. 

However, Hubbard’s efficiency has declined since a hot start to the season. 

Through the first four games, Hubbard shot 59.3% from the field and 60.0% from 3-point range. Since the Utah win on Nov. 17, Hubbard is 60-for-172 from the field (34.8%) and 34-for-114 from 3-point range (29.8%). 

MORE: Where Mississippi State basketball stands in updated March Madness bracket predictions

Why Mississippi State should be concerned with Josh Hubbard’s shooting

The worry with Hubbard’s efficiency is that it doesn’t seem to be improving. He’s shot at or below 33.3% in four of the last five and six of the last eight games. In the last three games, Hubbard is 10-of-37 from the field (27.0%) and 6-of-26 from 3 (23.1%).

Injuries are also mounting on the perimeter. Kanye Clary sat out again for the 10th consecutive game with a lower-leg injury. Mississippi State hasn’t provided an update on his status since the injury. Riley Kugel, who averages 9.6 points per game, also didn’t play after being a game-time decision. MSU has not said what his injury is or how long he could be out.

Why Mississippi State shouldn’t be concerned with Josh Hubbard’s shooting 

Last season’s team that made the NCAA tournament needed Hubbard to be the go-to scorer. This season’s team has proven it can win games when Hubbard doesn’t have a great offensive performance. 

Although the Bulldogs have lost two games in a row — both to top 10 teams in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll — they still began the season 14-1 for their best 15-game start in 21 years. Hubbard has been held under 15 points six times this season and MSU has won all of those games. That includes some of MSU’s biggest wins of the season against Vanderbilt, Memphis, Pittsburgh and Utah.

Hubbard also entered Tuesday third in the country with a 4.25 assist/turnover ratio. He didn’t record any assists against Auburn and had one turnover.

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

Mississippi State basketball saw its eight-game winning streak end Saturday against Kentucky and now has a date with the consensus No. 1 team in the country.

The Bulldogs (14-2, 2-1 SEC) are on the road Tuesday taking on Auburn (15-1, 3-0) at Neville Arena (6 p.m. CT, SEC Network).

The Tigers, whose only loss is at Duke, took the No. 1 ranking in both the USA TODAY Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25 this week. MSU dropped to No. 18 in the coaches poll. However, Auburn will be without star Johni Broome, who coach Bruce Pearl ruled out on Monday because of an ankle injury.

Follow along for live score updates.

Watch Mississippi State vs Auburn live on ESPN+ (subscribe today)

Mississippi State vs Auburn score updates

This section will be updated when the game begins.

What time does Mississippi State vs Auburn play today?

• Date: Tuesday, Jan. 14
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: Neville Arena

What channel is Mississippi State vs Auburn on today?

• TV channel: SEC Network
• Streaming: ESPN+ (subscribe here)
• Radio: Mississippi State radio network 96.1 FM

Mississippi State vs Auburn will be broadcast on SEC Network with streaming available on ESPN+.

Mississippi State vs Auburn live stream options

Mississippi State basketball vs. Auburn will be broadcast on SEC Network. Streaming is available on ESPN+.

Mississippi State vs Auburn prediction

Mississippi State 81, Auburn 79: The loss of Broome is a massive for Auburn. This certainly would be a different game with him in the lineup. Mississippi State squeaks out a win on the road for the program’s first against the AP No. 1 team since 1996.

Mississippi State vs Auburn betting odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Tuesday:

• Spread: Auburn -7.5
• Over/under: 149.5
• Moneyline: Auburn (-350), Mississippi State (+260)

Mississippi State vs Auburn injury updates

Mississippi State guard Kanye Clary remains out. Riley Kugel, who averages 9.6 points per game off the bench, is questionable. Auburn star Johni Broome is out too.

Mississippi State basketball schedule 2024-25

Record: 14-2

Next five games on the Mississippi State schedule:

• Jan. 14: at Auburn
• Jan. 18: vs. Ole Miss
• Jan. 21: at Tennessee
• Jan. 25: at South Carolina
• Jan. 29: vs. Alabama

Buy Mississippi State basketball tickets this season on StubHub

Auburn basketball schedule 2024-25

Record: 15-1

Next five games on the Auburn schedule:

• Jan. 14: vs. Mississippi State
• Jan. 18: at Georgia
• Jan. 25: vs. Tennessee
• Jan. 29: at LSU
• Feb. 1: at Ole Miss

Mississippi State basketball news

• Mississippi State dropped to No. 18 in this week’s USA TODAY Coaches Poll.
• MSU is playing its first game against the AP No. 1 team since 2015.
• Cameron Matthews tied his career high with 19 points against Kentucky.

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

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

A resolution filed in the Mississippi Senate would restrict press access to the Senate floor and move members of the media to the chamber’s gallery to cover the news.

However, the first person to decide whether the bill lives or dies through the legislative process told the Clarion Ledger he has no intentions of bringing up the legislation.

Sen. Kevin Blackwell, R-Southaven, filed Senate Resolution No. 5 on Friday. If passed into law, it would restrict access of reporters from the Senate floor but allow them to record and report on the chamber from the Senate gallery above.

“No person may be admitted to the floor of the Senate for the purpose of transcribing the debates and proceedings of the Senate,” states Senate Resolution No. 5. “No person except for news media with proper credentials issued by the Rules Committee shall take any photograph or transcribe debates and proceedings of the Senate in the Senate Gallery while the Senate is in session.”

In a written response given after initially declining to comment, Blackwell said the resolution practically changed nothing about the press’ access to the Senate. Blackwell did not respond to questions about why he believes reporters should not have access to the Senate floor.

“You will have access to everything you need,” Blackwell said on Monday. “Take pictures, listen to bill presentation. Just not on the floor with us. Your use of the word restricting access is horse hockey.”

2024 press access restriction bills: Senators introduce bills to limit journalist access to MS Capitol floor. See why

Because the resolution would actually amend the rules of the Senate, it has been sent to the Rules Committee, chaired by Senate President Pro Tempore Dean Kirby, R-Pearl, who is second in command of the chamber behind Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann.

Kirby said he has long had good relations with the media and has no intentions of restricting floor access to news outlets. However, a long-standing but rarely enforced rule to allow only one member of a news organization on the floor at one time could be enforced.

“I personally don’t have a problem with allowing the press on the floor,” Kirby said. “Matter of fact, I appreciate the press what they do, as far as keeping their little area up there and not walking out on the floor.”

Kirby said that all news outlets must apply for floor privileges with the Senate Rules Committee before being allowed to cover the news from the floor. Not everyone gets approved.

“Some people are trying to get credentials to be on the floor that really aren’t press,” Kirby said. “They have maybe just a podcast or just whatever. They don’t really report news, and they don’t dig into facts and that kind of stuff. So everyone that applies for credentials does not get approved.”

2025 session begins: Mississippi Legislature begins 2025 Session. See leaders’ goals for this year

How would this impact the public?

The Senate has for decades allowed members of the press to record the happenings of the chamber from the floor and recognized their role in facilitating public information to voters and state residents. By restricting floor access, the Senate would effectively be blocking the public from posing questions and ensuring a transparent and accountable legislative process, said Layne Bruce, Mississippi Press Association executive director.

“We are opposed to any efforts to limit capitol access for the press who act as important conduits of information for the citizens of Mississippi,” Bruce said. “An open legislature is an accountable legislature.”

Has legislation to restrict press access been introduced before?

This is not Blackwell’s first attempt to restrict access of the press in the capitol.

In 2024, he introduced legislation to remove the press from the Mississippi State Capitol press offices on the fourth floor, which have been in place since the 1960s. Those bills also died before ever being considered by the Senate Rules Committee.

Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.