WATCH: Players Postgame Presser - North Alabama

STARKVILLE - State's Josh Hubbard and Sergej Macura met with the media following the Bulldogs 86-62 rout of North Alabama to start the 2025-26 campaign on Wednesday at Humphrey Coliseum.

2025-26 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Postgame Quotes
Mississippi State vs. North Alabama – November 5, 2025

Guard Josh Hubbard and Forward Sergej Macura
Q: What was the difference in that 15-0 run to spark that comeback in the second half?
JH: "We just got adjusted to the game. We watched some clips, during halftime, things that they were beating us on. We adjusted to it and just took off from there. We played off of our grittiness, and our toughness in the second half and just ran up the score."

Q: What was it like playing in front of the crowd?
SM: "For a first home game, it was amazing. I really liked the crowd, the way they connected with us, and the way we were feeding off of their energy. It was just amazing. The 12 rebounds, it's just a mirror reflection of the energy of the team and the crowd. We tried to play hard, and they [the crowd] helped us do that."

Q: With all of the new guys, how was it being the guy kind of holding things down?
JH: "It was fun. The Hump was like no other. I'm glad that we got to experience this. Everybody was excited prior to the game. So, we knew that we had a job to complete. We were just excited to be out there and play against somebody else. We're just happy that the season is here."

Q: A couple opportunities to throw down a dunk, the student section was really excited for you. What was it like feeling that energy and the students reacting to you?
SM: "First of all, I want to say that I don't usually miss dunks. My teammates know that, that's why they are trolling me now in the locker room. The first one was nerves, the second one was nerves too, I don't know It happens, probably not going to happen again. It's the first game, what can I say? I'm trying to get a feel for it."

Q: One of the things Coach Jans was stressing every time we talked to him was cut down the turnovers and increase the rebounding. Do you think that you all succeeded at that tonight?
JH: "I feel like we got better at that in the second half. I feel like our ceiling is even higher, and that we can do even better. We just have to learn from this. To start like we did in the second half from the beginning of the game, we have to do it the whole game. I feel like our ceiling is higher, and we can improve from that."

Q: Ja'Borri McGhee's athleticism really stood out tonight. What do you think of his first performance here at Mississippi State?
JH: "He's going to remember it for sure. He showed a little bit of everything on both ends. I'm just so glad that he's here, that he's a part of this team and that he had fun. He almost got a crazy lob. I'm just glad that his athleticism got onto the floor tonight."

Q: Josh, are you more proud of your eight assists or your 27 points?
JH: "I think I'm going to go with eight assists just so I can brag to Coach Jans about it."

Q: I know he was hurt for most of the early summer, but did you kind of notice Dellquan Warren and him starting to gain his confidence?
JH: "Most definitely, Dellquan brings a spark to us and to the team. It's what we need. In a couple stretches when he was in, he gave us a spark when we were struggling early. His competitiveness, he's an everyday guy. He's probably the most everyday guy that we have on the team. So, I'm proud of him from where he's came, and his improvement on his game. His ceiling is much higher as well."

Q: You guys faced some adversity tonight, especially in the second half. What was the message to the guys when you were trailing?
JH: "Coming into the game, we knew that this was their Super Bowl. It kind of hit us a little bit in reality when we were in the moment, but it was good for us to experience that a little bit. Obviously, I didn't want to lose the game but just to experience a little adversity so in future games we know what to expect and how to adjust to it. We just have to keep it moving. Like [Coach] Jans says, the next play, that's the biggest thing. I feel like in the second half we got that on."

WATCH: Players Postgame Presser - North Alabama

Players Mentioned

Josh Hubbard

Sergej Macura

Ja’Borri McGhee

Dellquan Warren

Mississippi State University Athletics