Contrasting styles will be on display when high-scoring Mississippi State meets Georgia State, a team with a physical mentality, in Starkville, Miss., on Friday.
Mississippi State overpowered visiting West Georgia 95-60 on Monday, while Georgia State opened by defeating Ball State 71-66 in Atlanta in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge.
The Bulldogs made it a priority to improve their 3-point shooting in the offseason. After making only 32.2 percent from distance a season ago, they made 14 of 30 in the opener.
All-SEC second-team selection Josh Hubbard picked up where he left off during his successful freshman season by scoring 26 points — including six 3-pointers — in the opener. Claudell Harris Jr., a transfer from Boston College, scored 20 in his debut.
“We still have a long way to go, and we are just getting started,” said Mississippi State forward KeShawn Murphy. “We’re starting to figure out how to play as a team. I’m just excited to be here because it’s different from the previous years.”
Georgia State showed its new inside-friendly philosophy in the opener, with three players — all transfers — producing double-doubles. Cesare Edwards (Missouri State) had 17 points and 11 rebounds, Zarique Nutter (Northern Illinois) had 16 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, and Nick McMullen (UNC-Asheville) had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
“Ball State was as physical a bunch as we expected them to be,” Georgia State coach Jonas Hayes said. “But like I tell our guys, they were no more physical than we are on ourselves every single day in practice. It was a great way to start our year. This is our identity.”
Toneari Lane, a preseason All-Sun Belt selection, scored 14 points.
Mississippi State leads the all-time series 4-0 and won the last meeting 79-50 in December 2021. But Georgia State bounced back later that season to win the Sun Belt Conference tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament.
–Field Level Media
