Baylor and Mississippi State Clash in First Round of NCAA Tournament

RALEIGH, N.C. — The eighth-seeded Mississippi State Bulldogs will face off against the ninth-seeded Baylor Bears in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Friday at 12:15 p.m. ET at Lenovo Center. Both teams are looking to bounce back after recent losses in their respective conference tournaments.

Mississippi State (21-12) dropped an 85-73 decision to Missouri in the second round of the SEC Tournament, while Baylor (19-14) lost to Texas Tech by a narrow 76-74 margin in the Big 12 quarterfinals. This matchup marks Baylor’s 17th NCAA Tournament appearance and Mississippi State’s 14th.

According to the latest odds from SportsLine Consensus, the Bulldogs are a 1.5-point favorite. The projected over/under for total points scored is set at 144.5.

Mississippi State boasts standout players like sophomore guard Josh Hubbard, who averaged 18.7 points per game and was named to the All-SEC second team. Hubbard has set a program record for career points by an underclassman with 1,214 and has hit one or more three-pointers in 46 consecutive games.

Junior forward KeShawn Murphy, who plays a key role coming from the bench, also contributes significantly to the Bulldogs’ success. He is averaging 11.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, with five double-doubles this season.

On the Bears side, senior forward Norchad Omier is coming off a remarkable 29-point performance in the Big 12 tournament. He has averaged a double-double in his last nine games and currently holds averages of 15.9 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.

Freshman guard V.J. Edgecombe, recognized as the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, is another vital player for Baylor, averaging 15 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. His performance in a recent match included a double-double against Kansas State with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Sports analysts predict a tight contest between the two teams. Data from SportsLine suggests the total points could exceed expectations, projecting 148 combined points. The model asserts a significant correlation to the spread, leaning heavily toward the over for both teams’ scoring potential in the matchup.

The winner will advance to the next round, igniting their hopes for a deeper run in the tournament.