Mississippi State
1-0,0-0SEC
Tennessee Tech
0-1,0-0SoCon
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Tech | 37 | 51 | 88 |
| Mississippi St. | 53 | 53 | 106 |
November 02, 2026 | Men's Basketball
STARKVILLE – Josh Hubbard scored 25 points and dished out nine assists, while King Grace provided a huge spark off the bench with 23 points as Mississippi State opened its 2026-27 men's basketball season with a 106-88 victory over Tennessee Tech on Monday night at Humphrey Coliseum.
The Bulldogs put together an impressive offensive performance, shooting 58.3% from the field and connecting on 12 of 24 attempts from 3-point range. State placed five players in double figures and received 48 points from its bench while surpassing the century mark in its season opener.
Hubbard led the charge, connecting on 7 of 11 shots, including 3 of 4 from beyond the arc, while making 8 of 10 free throws. Grace was equally efficient, hitting 8 of 12 field goals and 4 of 6 attempts from long range in just 23 minutes of action.
Tajuan Simpkins added 15 points and five assists, Thomas Bassong contributed 14 points and six rebounds, and RJ Johnson finished with 12 points and three assists. Johnson knocked down 3 of 4 attempts from 3-point territory.
Mississippi State encountered some early resistance from the Golden Eagles before taking control with a decisive 22-6 run late in the opening half.
Unsurprisingly, it was Hubbard who sparked the rally that put State firmly in the driver's seat. With the score tied 31-all, Hubbard's trey with 4:56 left in the first half put MSU on a roll. Grace connected for three triples of his own in the critical stretch that gave State a 53-37 edge at halftime.
MSU kept its foot on the gas in the second half, scoring the first five points of the period to stretch its lead to 21. Tennessee Tech never got closer than a dozen points the rest of the way as the Bulldogs wrapped game one in Maroon and White.
Mississippi State returns to action on Thursday against Northwestern State. Tip time at The Hump is set for 6:30 p.m.
