Mississippi
Mississippi State basketball vs. Ole Miss: Score prediction, scouting report for rematch
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State basketball coach Chris Jans often uses metrics when examining his team’s play. For example, he’ll often cite turnover rates rather than simply pointing to the number of times the Bulldogs gave the ball away in a contest.
However, advanced analytics aren’t needed when reexamining Mississippi State’s loss at Ole Miss on Jan. 30.
The Bulldogs allowed the Rebels to score 86 points. It’s as simple as that to Jans. Playing on the road, 82 points should have been enough for MSU (17-8, 6-6 SEC) to pick up a rivalry win.
“We just didn’t defend well enough,” Jans said Monday. “… We just had some breakdowns and have got to try to clean them up.”
The numbers suggest MSU should find improved play on that end of the floor Wednesday (8 p.m., ESPN2) when Ole Miss (19-6, 6-6) comes to Humphrey Coliseum.
Mississippi State ranks No. 13 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom. The Bulldogs rank in the top 30 in effective field goal percentage allowed and fourth in 3-point percentage allowed.
Even with forward D.J. Jeffries – who Jans considers the team’s top perimeter defender – sidelined with an injury, Mississippi State has held teams to an average of 60 points per game during its three game winning streak.
Can Ole Miss stay hot from range?
The 3-point line was key for Ole Miss in picking up a victory at home against MSU. The Rebels made 12 of their 30 attempts (40%), including a stretch of four straight late in the first half to regain momentum going into halftime.
Under first-year coach Chris Beard, Ole Miss ranks 10th nationally shooting 38.6% from beyond the arc. Guard Jaylen Murray paces the Rebels at 41.4% while Matthew Murrell shoots 40.9%. Against State, they combined for 41 points on 7-18 shooting from 3-point range.
However, they still needed a third threat to help fend off the Bulldogs. TJ Caldwell provided that in the first meeting with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 4-5 from 3-point range.
STATE VS OLE MISS: How Mississippi State, Ole Miss brought basketball fever back into heated rivalry
Score prediction
Stefan Krajisnik, Mississippi State beat writer: Mississippi State 77, Ole Miss 65. MSU and Ole Miss are not too different from the rest of the SEC. Both are good at home and shaky on the road. The Bulldogs gave themselves a chance to win in Oxford. In front of a home crowd, Mississippi State should have no problem improving its winning streak to four.
David Eckert, Ole Miss beat writer: Mississippi State 71, Ole Miss 65. The Rebels ended their three-game losing skid by beating Mizzou, but they didn’t play particularly well in doing so. The Bulldogs’ scoring limitations and the nature of rivalry games would make it surprising to see the Rebels blown out, but a road win seems unlikely, too.
Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @skrajisnik3.
Mississippi
Mississippi College Baseball Wins Series vs. West Florida for First Time
Mississippi College baseball has won the series against West Florida for the first time ever
The Choctaws have been playing UWF since 2015
MC won the first two games and put on a bit of a comeback in game 3
Next: GSC at Delta St., then Conference Tournament
Mississippi
George County High School senior killed in Highway 26 crash, MHP says
GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) — A George County High School senior is dead after an SUV hit him while bicycling on Highway 26 Friday night.
Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) officials said at 8:15 p.m. the MHP responded to a fatal crash on Highway 26 in George County.
Those officials said a Ford SUV traveling west on Highway 26 collided with 18-year-old Tyree Bradley of McLain, Mississippi, who was bicycling.
Bradley was fatally injured and died at the scene, MHP officials said.
The crash remains under investigation by the MHP.
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Mississippi
Mississippi State Drops Series Opener at Texas A&M Despite Late Chances
Some losses feel like they drag on longer than the box score suggests, and Mississippi State’s 3-1 opener at Texas A&M fits that category.
It wasn’t a blowout. It wasn’t a game where the Bulldogs looked outmatched.
It was just one of those nights where the early mistakes stuck around and the offense never quite found the swing that could shake them loose.
The frustrating part is how quickly the hole formed. Two solo homers and a wild pitch in the first two innings put Mississippi State behind 3-0, and that was basically the ballgame.
Against a top tier SEC team on the road, spotting three runs that early is a tough ask. The Bulldogs didn’t fold, but they also didn’t cash in when the door cracked open.
“I liked our fight. I think we’re really just working through some things offensively, and trying to stay together,” Mississippi State coach Samantha Ricketts said. “This team still believes, and we’re going to battle and fight every chance we get, and I think I saw a lot of that. I’m encouraged for what that means for us moving forward, but, you know, they’re a good hitting team, and we’ve got to be able to shut them down early. I don’t think Peja [Goold] had her best stuff, but she continued to battle out there and find ways to get outs.”
They had chances. Two runners stranded in the fifth. Two more in the sixth. Another in the seventh. Des Rivera finally got the Bulldogs on the board with an RBI single, but the big hit that usually shows up for this lineup never arrived.
It wasn’t a lack of traffic. It was a lack of finish.
If there was a bright spot, it came from the bullpen. Delainey Everett gave Mississippi State exactly what it needed after the rocky start.
“That was just a huge relief appearance by Delaney to keep us in it,” Ricketts said. “It’s really good to have her back and healthy these last few weeks because these are the moments where we really need her and rely on her. We know that she’s going to be a big part of the remainder of the season going forward as well.”
Three hitless innings, one baserunner, and a reminder that she’s quietly putting together a strong stretch.
There were individual positives too. Nadia Barbary keeps climbing the doubles list. Kiarra Sells keeps finding ways on base.
But the bigger picture is simple. Mississippi State is now 6-10 in the SEC, and the margin for error is shrinking. Nights like this one are the difference between climbing back into the race and staying stuck in the middle.
They get another shot this morning with the schedule bumped up for weather. The formula isn’t complicated.
Clean up the early innings, keep getting quality relief, and find one or two timely swings. The Bulldogs didn’t get them Friday. They’ll need them today.
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