Mississippi
Baseball: Larry homers twice, Mississippi State cruises past Missouri
STARKVILLE — Amani Larry’s younger brother was the “Lil’ Dude of the Game” at Dudy Noble Field on Friday, having come all the way from Bossier City, Louisiana to watch the senior second baseman play his final regular-season home games for Mississippi State.
In-stadium host Grace Harvey asked Larry’s brother who his favorite Bulldogs player is, and he gave the obvious answer. Perhaps inspired by the love from his family, Larry homered twice after the brief interview as part of a three-hit, four-RBI day to lead MSU to an 8-2 victory over Missouri.
“It was pretty awesome,” Larry said. “It’s awesome when you realize I’m playing in The Dude. Not everybody gets to do that. A lot of (youth) teams take field trips to The Dude. I’m just blessed to be here.”
With center fielder Connor Hujsak still out with a back injury, freshman Ethan Pulliam has shifted from second base to the outfield for the last two games, giving Larry, who had started the previous 16 games as the designated hitter, the opportunity to start in the field again at his natural position. Since returning to the defensive lineup, Larry is 4-for-7 at the plate with three home runs, five runs batted in and five runs scored.
“That may be part of the reason. I’m sure he would tell me that, (as) the guy who makes out the lineup card,” Bulldogs head coach Chris Lemonis said. “There’s nobody who works as hard as Amani in our program. He’s a wonderful kid and he’s a really good baseball player. This game is tough. It’s fun to see him reap some of those rewards.”
Larry provided more than enough run support for sophomore Jurrangelo Cijntje, who held the Tigers to just three hits — two of them solo homers — over seven strong innings, striking out nine and issuing just one walk.
Cijntje struck out five batters in a row at one point, and while his fastball was sharp, sitting in the range of 95-96 miles per hour for most of the game, his secondary pitches were the key to his outing. A year after finishing the season with an 8.10 ERA in 50 innings, Cijntje improved to 8-1 with a 3.48 ERA over 77 2/3 innings, striking out 3.5 batters for every walk and holding opponents to a .204 average.
“I almost wonder, was he throwing a cutter? It was so hard early. It was 90-91 (mph) a lot,” Lemonis said. “A couple weeks ago, he was using the curveball a lot. But it’s just what he feels some days in the bullpen. The slider was really good today, and his changeup. When he has his changeup, it’s really tough to hit him.”
Hunter Hines opened the scoring with a leadoff home run in the second inning, a blast that left the bat at 114 miles per hour and landed 416 feet away from home plate. It was Hines’ 15th long ball of the year, 12 of which have come in Southeastern Conference play.
Trevor Austin evened the score with a solo shot in the fourth after Cijntje had retired the first 10 batters of the game, but MSU (36-18, 17-12 SEC) retook the lead, for good this time, in the bottom of the inning. Hines walked and Larry singled with one out, and Logan Kohler beat the shift for an opposite-field single to bring in Hines. Joe Powell’s sacrifice fly to left then brought home Larry.
The Bulldogs broke the game open an inning later, taking advantage of two errors on one play by Missouri’s second baseman that put runners at the corners with nobody out. Dakota Jordan’s second double of the game drove in Bryce Chance, and two batters later, Larry launched a three-run shot into the lounge in left to put MSU on top 7-1.
Cijntje made one more mistake when Matt Garcia tagged him for a leadoff homer in the seventh, but he retired the next three men he faced to end his day after 95 pitches.
“Sometimes it’s just late in the game, you’ll hang a breaking ball or something,” Cijntje said. “You just have to keep your composure and stay locked in and don’t let that determine your outing.”
Larry led off the eighth with his second home run, completing his second multi-homer game in a Bulldogs uniform. He hit two on May 18 of last year, including a walk-off blast in the ninth, in a 10-8 win over Texas A&M.
MSU has won every home series in conference play and will go for its second SEC sweep of the year Saturday. The Bulldogs enter the day tied with Georgia for fifth place in the conference standings, though they do own the tiebreaker thanks to a series win back in early April.
“We’re still playing for seeding, for hosting, for all those type of things,” Lemonis said. “This league, it’s just so hard. That’s why you see a lot of teams get two and give back one. They’re locked in. They know how big (Saturday’s) game is and they’ll be ready to go.”
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Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 3, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
01-04-07-15-34
Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
Midday: 4-5-3, FB: 6
Evening: 3-9-1, FB: 0
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
Midday: 5-3-4-4, FB: 6
Evening: 9-9-0-0, FB: 0
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
Midday: 12
Evening: 09
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Story continues below gallery.
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.
Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:
Mississippi Lottery Corporation
P.O. Box 321462
Flowood, MS
39232
If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.
Mississippi Lottery Headquarters
1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100
Flowood, MS
39232
Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.
When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?
- Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
- Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils (1-12) head into a road matchup with Tae Davis and the Oklahoma Sooners (9-3) at Lloyd Noble Center on Monday, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
We provide more details below, and that includes how to watch this game on SEC Network+.
Here is everything you need to prepare for Monday’s college hoops game.
Oklahoma vs. Mississippi Valley State: How to watch on TV or live stream
- Game day: Monday, December 29, 2025
- Game time: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: Norman, Oklahoma
- Arena: Lloyd Noble Center
- TV Channel: SEC Network+
- Live stream: Fubo – Watch NOW (Regional restrictions may apply)
Check out: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
Watch college basketball on Fubo!
Oklahoma vs. Mississippi Valley State stats and trends
- With 86.9 points per game on offense, Oklahoma is 46th in the nation. At the other end, it gives up 72.7 points per contest, which ranks 174th in college basketball.
- The Sooners are grabbing 34.8 boards per game (111th-ranked in college basketball) this season, while allowing 30.5 rebounds per contest (156th-ranked).
- Oklahoma is averaging 16.7 dimes per game, which ranks them 76th in college basketball in 2025-26.
- The Sooners are forcing 11.6 turnovers per game this season (214th-ranked in college basketball), but they’ve averaged just 9.3 turnovers per contest (20th-best).
- This season, Oklahoma is making 10.2 three-pointers per game (45th-ranked in college basketball) and is shooting 34.6% (143rd-ranked) from three-point land.
- The Sooners are giving up 8.6 treys per game (281st-ranked in college basketball) this season, while allowing a 35.2% three-point percentage (285th-ranked).
- Of the shots attempted by Oklahoma in 2025-26, 53.7% of them have been two-pointers (66.6% of the team’s made baskets) and 46.3% have been threes (33.4%).
Oklahoma vs. Mississippi Valley State Odds and Spread
- Spread Favorite: Sooners (-44.5)
- Total: 152.5 points
NCAA Basketball odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Monday at 2:47 a.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.
Watch college basketball on Fubo!
Follow the latest college sports coverage at College Sports Wire.
The powers-that-be have put college football coaches and players in very awkward spots with the transfer portal.
For roughly 68-70 FBS teams, there’s a stretch of time between its regular season finale and bowl game where important decisions have to be made.
Coaches have to be fired and hired. Coaching staffs have to be adjusted or changed entirely. Players have to make decisions about staying or going, whether via the portal or NFL Draft.
It leads to awkward moments with players announcing plans to enter the transfer portal and opting out of their team’s bowl game. There are good arguments to be made for all sides, too.
For example, fans may hate it, but if a player knows they’re entering the transfer portal then it’s a smart business decision to not play in a bowl game. (Playoff games are different.)
But not all players planning to enter the transfer portal are opting out of their team’s bowl game. Just like not all coaches are keeping transferring players at home for bowl games.
In those instances, it’s a good display of coaches and players having good relationships.
That brings us to today’s news that Mississippi State quarterback Luke Kromenhoek is going to be with the Bulldogs for their Duke’s Mayo Bowl game against Wake Forest on Friday.
“He is with us and will be available,” Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby announced Sunday morning. “So, appreciative of him staying with us, going through this, being a great teammate, and excited for what he’s going to be able to go do next.”
Kromenhoek has already announced his intention to enter the transfer portal after one season in Starkville. He played in two games (earning a redshirt) and threw only four passes, but his availability is important.
Blake Shapen started 11 of 12 games for Mississippi State this season before true freshman Kamario Taylor was handed the starting job in the Egg Bowl. Shapen is no longer with the team, as Lebby confirmed earlier this month.
That left some question as to who the No. 2 quarterback in the bowl game would be. With Kromenhoek planning to enter the transfer portal, the only other quarterbacks were Taylor and fellow true freshman Parker Puckett.
Taking just Taylor and Puckett to Charlotte would be a big gamble that Taylor doesn’t miss any plays. But Kromenhoek will be available, easing those concerns.
More than 20 Mississippi State players have announced their intentions to enter the transfer portal when it opens January 2. But Kromenhoek is the only one that’ll be available for the bowl game.
“The situation is exactly what it is, and I totally understand where (Kromenhoek’s) coming from, and that’s college football these days,” Lebby said. “Luke’s got a chance to be a great player, really talented and really intelligent.
“I think for us, that’s really the only one that has said he’s going to go in that is going to be with us.”
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