Mississippi St defeats Oklahoma 72-53
Mississippi St Dominates Home Court, Defeats Oklahoma 72-53
In front of a raucous crowd at Humphrey Coliseum, the Mississippi St Bulldogs proved too much for the visiting Oklahoma Sooners to handle, delivering a convincing 19-point victory in their conference matchup. The win marked a significant statement from the home team, showcasing their depth and resilience against a quality opponent.
The game began with a sense of parity, as both teams traded baskets in the opening half, leading to a 27-27 tie at intermission. However, it was the Bulldogs who emerged from the break with renewed energy, outscoring Oklahoma 45-26 over the final 20 minutes to secure their convincing win.
Josh Hubbard was the standout performer for Mississippi St, scoring 30 points on 50% shooting and dishing out three assists. The senior forward's impact on both ends of the court was evident, as he also grabbed 14 rebounds and added two steals.
For Oklahoma, Tae Davis led the way with 13 points, but it wasn't enough to stem the tide against a well-prepared Bulldogs defense. Xzayvier Brown chipped in with four assists and seven rebounds for Oklahoma, but the Sooners were unable to overcome their shooting struggles – they made just 38.5% of their field goal attempts.
The advanced statistics paint an even more nuanced picture of the game. Mississippi St's true shooting percentage was a key factor in their success, as they shot 50.5% from the field and held Oklahoma to just 40.2%. The Bulldogs also excelled on the glass, outrebounding their opponents 29-22.
Oklahoma, meanwhile, struggled with turnovers – committing 13 against Mississippi St's seven – which hindered their offense and allowed the home team to build a lead. The Sooners' poor shooting from beyond the arc – just 15% from three-point range – also contributed to their inability to keep pace.
Ultimately, the Bulldogs' balanced performance on both ends of the court proved too much for Oklahoma to handle. As they celebrated their victory, Mississippi St made it clear that home court advantage played a significant role in their success. With this win, the Bulldogs demonstrated their ability to compete with top-tier teams and asserted themselves as a force to be reckoned with in conference play.
Final Box Score:
Mississippi St:
* Field Goals: 25/59 (42.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 23/44 (52.3%)
* 3-Point FG: 2/15 (13.0%)
* Free Throws: 20/28 (71.0%)
* Rebounds: 46
* Assists: 7
* Turnovers: 9
Oklahoma:
* Field Goals: 17/55 (31.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 14/35 (40.0%)
* 3-Point FG: 3/20 (15.0%)
* Free Throws: 16/25 (64.0%)
* Rebounds: 35
* Assists: 4
* Turnovers: 13