Missouri Tigers Face Tough Test at Mississippi State

STARKVILLE, Miss. — The No. 20 Missouri Tigers (16-4, 5-2 SEC) will face a formidable challenge Saturday as they take on the No. 14 Mississippi State Bulldogs (16-5, 4-4 SEC) at Humphrey Coliseum. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. CT, with the game airing on the SEC Network.

Missouri, coming off an 83-75 home victory, aims to improve its dismal 1-9 record in Starkville. The Tigers’ lone win at Humphrey Coliseum came on Feb. 13, 2013, during their first season in the SEC. Since then, the Bulldogs have dominated, with the last eight meetings decided by double-digit margins.

Mississippi State, led by head coach Chris Jans, has been consistent this season, defeating teams they were expected to beat while falling to stronger opponents. Their recent 88-84 loss to Alabama highlighted both their resilience and vulnerabilities.

“Chris Jans does an amazing job, and he has been his entire career,” Missouri head coach Dennis Gates said. “Mississippi State is a tremendous team, well-balanced defensively. We know what they bring to the table—their grit, their toughness. That’s something that is an identity of their program. Always has and always will be.”

The Tigers will need to contain sophomore guard Josh Hubbard, who scored a career-high 38 points against Alabama. Hubbard, averaging 17.2 points per game, has been a consistent offensive threat despite his 5-foot-11 frame. Gates emphasized the importance of defending Hubbard without fouling, particularly from beyond the arc.

Missouri also plans to exploit Mississippi State’s struggles on the defensive glass. The Bulldogs rank 201st nationally in defensive rebounding rate (30.3%), a weakness that has been more pronounced in SEC play. The Tigers, who outrebounded Ole Miss 11-5 on offensive boards in their last game, hope to capitalize on second-chance opportunities.

Another key for Missouri will be their 3-point shooting. The Tigers rank second in the SEC in 3-point percentage (38.6%), while Mississippi State has allowed opponents to shoot 35.2% from deep, ranking 257th nationally. If Missouri can maintain their shooting efficiency, they could pose significant problems for the Bulldogs.

Mississippi State’s projected starters include Hubbard, along with senior forward Tolu Smith, who averages 10.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Missouri will counter with a balanced lineup featuring graduate senior guard Sean East II, who averages 13.5 points per game.

KenPom predicts a 78-72 victory for Mississippi State, but the Tigers are determined to defy the odds. “(They) are one of the teams that I feel like can match our physicality in the SEC,” Missouri graduate senior center Jordan Wilmore said. “So it’s just going to be a game of punches and counter punches. We just gotta stay in it.”

The game could have significant implications for the SEC standings, with Missouri looking to solidify its position in the top tier of the conference.