Chris Jans addresses team's shaky first half vs. LSU in SEC Tournament

FaceProfileby:Thomas Goldkamp•03/14/24
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Likely needing another win or two to fully cement itself as as NCAA Tournament team, Mississippi State opened SEC Tournament play against LSU with a bang. The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead before hitting a wall.

LSU put down the clamps defensively and closed the half by holding Mississippi State without a bucket for the final 7:42 of the first stanza.

“We got to the rim early,” coach Chris Jans told ESPN’s Marty Smith at halftime. “We didn’t finish very well. They blocked a couple of our shots. Then obviously we missed some free throws that really hurt us. Defensively we were great to start the game, and then unfortunately when the offense sputtered our intensity and effort dropped a little bit on the defensive end.”

A five-point Bulldogs lead quickly dissipated as the Tigers settled into the game.

LSU did a masterful job in the first half of defending leading scorer Josh Hubbard, who was held to just 1-of-6 shooting in the first half, though he finished the half with 10 points thanks to his ability to get to the free-throw line.

Finding a way to free Hubbard in the second half will be important for Mississippi State at the SEC Tournament.

LSU did its damage on the boards and in the paint, commanding a 23-13 advantage in rebounds and a 12-8 edge in points in the paint. Eight different Tigers players scored in the first half, a product of excellent ball movement.

Mississippi State, which was listed on the “Last Four Byes” line in Joe Lunardi’s most recent bracketology at ESPN, could really use a win or two in the SEC Tournament to further cement an NCAA Tournament bid.

They’ll have work to do in the second half.

“We didn’t play very well and we got 20 minutes left,” Jans said. “And we’ve just got to play better.”

Hubbard finished as the leading scorer in the first half for Mississippi State, with no other Bulldogs player having more than four points in the half.

LSU had a well-rounded scoring effort but was led by Hunter Dean‘s seven points in the opening frame.