NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Cameron Matthews and Josh Hubbard every scored 18 factors, and ninth-seeded Mississippi State dominated fifth-ranked Tennessee 73-56 Friday within the Southeastern Convention match quarterfinals.
This victory ought to push the Bulldogs (21-12) firmly off the NCAA match bubble with their second win over No. 1 seed Tennessee this season. They’ll play the winner of No. 15 South Carolina and No. 12 Auburn within the semifinals Saturday, their first semifinal since profitable this occasion in 2009.
Mississippi State, which ended the common season on a four-game skid, by no means trailed in opposition to the SEC’s high seed with the Vols managing one tie at 2-2. The Bulldogs additionally held Dalton Knecht, the AP SEC Participant of the Yr who averaged 25.5 factors in league play, to 14 factors.
Tennessee (24-8) damage its hopes for the primary No. 1 seed within the NCAA match in program historical past with a second straight loss.
The regular-season champion Vols depart as losers within the quarterfinals for a second straight 12 months after profitable this match in 2022.
Zakai Zeigler had a game-high 20 factors, and Jahmai Mashack added 10 for Tennessee.
The Volunteers had a number of orange for help with followers determined to offer them vitality. But they struggled to shoot irrespective of how open the have a look at the basket. Mississippi State, who beat LSU in its match opener, seemingly could not miss.
The Bulldogs shot 62.5% from the ground and led 38-19 at halftime with Shawn Jones Jr. ending off the dominating begin with a dunk to beat the buzzer after a uncommon miss by a teammate. They held Tennessee to a season low for factors within the first half, three fewer than the final time these groups met.
Mississippi State led by as a lot as 23 halfway by means of the second half. When the Vols obtained inside 60-48 with 10 straight factors, D.J. Jeffries hit a 3 after which a layup to smother Tennessee’s hopes of a comeback.
BIG PICTURE
Mississippi State: The Bulldogs are one in all 16 groups with at the least two victories over top-10 groups throughout league play, and this was one other one after beating Tennessee in January.
Tennessee: Knecht dug the Vols out of some poor first-half performances through the common season with huge runs by himself. This time, he was 2 of 9 within the second half. The Vols at the moment are 10-4 in opposition to the Bulldogs with coach Rick Barnes.
UP NEXT
Mississippi State was swept by South Carolina, together with within the regular-season finale 93-89 in time beyond regulation. The Bulldogs break up with Auburn with every crew profitable on its dwelling ground.
Info from The Related Press was used on this report.