Mississippi State
13-14,5-9SEC
South Carolina
12-15,3-11SEC
The Final Horn: South Carolina 97, State 89
February 21, 2026 | Men's Basketball
THE BOTTOM LINE: Mississippi State dropped a 97-89 decision at South Carolina on Saturday afternoon in Columbia. Midway through the first half, the Gamecocks put together an 8-0 run to go up by 12, 34-22, on their way to a 46-39 halftime advantage. In the second half, State played from behind the rest of the way as they fought for momentum, but they were unable to muster a comeback.
KEY NUMBERS: Quincy Ballard led State with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Jayden Epps added 13 points in the first half before exiting the game with an injury. Josh Hubbard also scored 13. A big factor in the State loss was South Carolina draining 12 of its 24 3-point attempts.
NEXT UP FOR MSU: The Bulldogs face another road test as they battle Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m., and the game will be aired on ESPNU.
