Mississippi
Why seniors are crucial for Sam Purcell to stop Mississippi State basketball’s spiral
AUBURN, Ala. — Roaming on one end of the Neville Arena court was Auburn women’s basketball coach Johnnie Harris. Her team is on the NCAA Tournament bubble in the final week of the regular season, but the Tigers didn’t look like a fringe team on Thursday.
Auburn (18-10, 7-8 SEC) looked like a program worthy of an at-large bid. It looked like a team finding momentum at the right time with only the leap day delaying the arrival of March.
“I know this game was big going for our goals,” Harris said. “We knew we had to get this one. Our kids were locked in from the beginning.”
On the other end, Mississippi State coach Sam Purcell was pacing the sideline looking for answers. His Bulldogs (20-10, 7-8) seemed like a lock for March Madness a couple weeks ago when they were riding a five-game winning streak – highlighted by a victory against defending champion LSU.
But Thursday, MSU looked like the team carrying an uncertain future. With a 77-60 loss against the Tigers, the Bulldogs have dropped five straight. They’re playing their worst basketball – turning it over 17 times and allowing 18 offensive boards – at a time where a team should be finding momentum.
“We’re not making enough winning plays right now,” Purcell said.
Both coaches know what it takes to succeed in the postseason – specifically at Mississippi State. Harris was an assistant under Vic Schaefer (2012-2020) and helped lead MSU to back-to-back national title game appearances. Purcell was an assistant at Louisville (2013-2022) and helped lead the Cardinals to multiple Final Four trips.
As head coaches, they’re leading teams headed in opposite directions of the SEC standings. Auburn’s rise has come by capitalizing on chances against struggling conference foes such as Missouri and Kentucky. Mississippi State’s skid has featured losses against UK and Florida.
Harris and Purcell knows the importance of finding momentum going into postseason play. For Mississippi State, Sunday (2 p.m., SEC Network+) against Mizzou is the last chance to do so before win-or-go-home games begin.
“Let’s have a special night because it’s been a special group,” Purcell said. “Let’s just funnel that energy in a positive mindset. Let’s finish this off, and then we’ll talk about all that other stuff later.”
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While Mississippi State isn’t in a position it aimed for, Sunday will be a fitting representation of what could get the team back on the right path. MSU relies heavily on its seniors – whether it be those in their last season of eligibility such as Jessika Carter, Lauren Park-Lane and Erynn Barnum or a true senior with choices to make such as Jerkaila Jordan.
Auburn appears to be trending toward its first at-large bid since 2019. Sixth-year senior Honesty Scott-Grayson is a big reason why, scoring a career-high 32 points against the Bulldogs in her final home game.
Mississippi State may need a similar signature performance at Humphrey Coliseum to maintain its NCAA Tournament hopes.
“We’ve got to go home and not get kept up in the skid – but most importantly, send the seniors out right,” Purcell said.
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.
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 Dec. 3, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from Dec. 3 drawing
12-18-19-28-29
Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from Dec. 3 drawing
Midday: 5-5-4, FB: 1
Evening: 1-4-0, FB: 0
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from Dec. 3 drawing
Midday: 5-6-0-0, FB: 1
Evening: 0-0-9-9, FB: 0
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 3 drawing
Midday: 11
Evening: 01
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.
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football flipped another prospect the week of the early signing period.
Micah Nickerson, a four-star edge rusher from South Pike, flipped from Missouri and signed with the Bulldogs’ 2026 recruiting class on Dec. 3 on signing day. Nickerson was previously committed to Mississippi State, but flipped to Missouri in September.
The early signing period ends Dec. 5.
He’s the second recruit MSU and coach Jeff Lebby have flipped in the week after Hartfield Academy five-star safety Bralan Womack committed on Dec. 1.
Micah Nickerson 247 ranking
Nickerson is a four-star, according to the 247Sports Composite, He’s ranked No. 286 nationally, No. 13 in Mississippi and as the No. 29 edge rusher.
Nickerson, listed at 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, is the third-highest ranked prospect in MSU’s class behind Womack and Grenada four-star tight end Zayion Cotton.
Mississippi State lands DL Tico Crittendon
Shortly after Nickerson signed, Mississippi State also landed defensive lineman Tico Crittendon, according to a report from On3.
Crittendon is a three-star from Lithonia, Georgia, according to the 247Sports Composite. He decommitted from Florida State on Nov. 5.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
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Staff
Kamesha Mumford defeated Jackson attorney Letitia Johnson in the Dec. 2 runoff election for Mississippi Senate District 26.
Mumford, a municipal judge from Canton, will serve the remainder of the term through 2028 after voters across parts of northwest Hinds County and Madison County hit the polls.
According to the unofficial results, Kamesha Mumford defeated Letitia Johnson in the Mississippi Senate District 26 runoff with 3,711 votes, or 55.9%, to Johnson’s 2,922 votes, or 44,1%. A total of 22 write-in votes were cast, bringing overall turnout to 6,655 votes across both counties.
In Madison County’s six precincts, Mumford received 814 votes or 69.6% to Johnson’s 356 votes or 30.4%, with five write-in votes. In Hinds County’s 19 precincts, Mumford carried 2,897 votes to Johnson’s 2,566 votes, with 17 write-ins counted.
The District 26 seat has been vacant since former Sen. John Horhn resigned earlier this year to become mayor of Jackson. Horhn represented the district for more than three decades before leaving the Legislature. Gov. Tate Reeves called the special election to fill the remainder of Horhn’s term.
The Nov. 4 special election initially featured seven candidates before narrowing to Tuesday’s runoff, with Mumford winning the race and Johnson finishing in second.
Large donations draw attention in Senate District 26 race
But the runoff didn’t just play out at the ballot box. It also unfolded on campaign finance reports, where six-figure and five-figure donations fueled an expensive legislative race.
On Johnson’s report, her campaign lists a $150,000 contribution from the national law firm Singleton Schreiber, where Johnson serves as a managing partner. The firm is listed as a limited liability company.
Johnson’s fundraising advantage was substantial. Through Nov. 25, her campaign reported $348,674.11 in total contributions, $297,971.39 in total spending and $50,702.72 in cash on hand. Much of that money went toward a full-scale media and turnout blitz, including radio advertising, mass text messaging, direct mail and consulting services. Also included were two $25,000 payments made to political consultant firm Watershed Strategy in the final weeks of the runoff.
By comparison, Mumford ran a far smaller operation, with campaign reports showing significantly lower fundraising totals. Her October campaign finance report showed $152,948.55 in total contributions and $65,499.55 cash on hand at that point in the race. A later November runoff report showed an additional $11,413.26 in new contributions and $53,401.17 in cash on hand, reflecting continued but more modest late-cycle fundraising. Mumford’s campaign spending focused largely on printing, canvassing, limited advertising and small consulting contracts.
Mumford’s report also shows two $50,000 donations on June 1 — one from Mumford and Mumford, the law firm owned and operated by the candidate and her husband, and another from Mumford Title, which the Mississippi Secretary of State lists as a limited liability company.
Mississippi law caps donations from corporations and incorporated entities at $1,000 per year. But the Mississippi Secretary of State’s 2025 Campaign Finance Guide cites state law defining LLCs as unincorporated entities that are not subject to that corporate cap. That means LLCs may legally exceed the $1,000 limit.
As a result of that definition, the six-figure and five-figure donations that initially drew scrutiny — including the $150,000 contribution from Singleton Schreiber to Johnson and the two $50,000 donations tied to Mumford’s campaign — are permitted under current Mississippi law.
The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office confirmed that interpretation to the Clarion Ledger.
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