Ja'Borri McGhee update: Chris Jans explains Mississippi State guard's second half absence vs. Long Island

Ja’Borri McGhee did not see the court in the second half during Mississippi State‘s 87-83 win over Long Island on Tuesday. He finished the game with two points and two rebounds in 11 minutes in the first half.

After the game, Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans revealed the latest on McGhee’s absence during the mid-week matchup. According to the Bulldogs coach, it was a number of things that culminated in keeping him on the bench for the final 20 minutes.

“He, obviously, was sick. (It was) well documented in Utah, and he was still battling that a little bit,” Jans explained. “It’s obviously a lot of travel to and from, time zone change differences. And then he had a banged up ankle as well.

“Word was he was ready to go. He practiced yesterday, but he had some subs. Didn’t go quite as many reps, and then shoot around, it seemed like he was good to go.”

That appeared to be the case at first, as he was on the court for Mississippi State for most of the first half. By the time Jans turned to McGhee in the second half, he was on the bench with his shoe off.

“I was told he was good to go,” Jans continued. “And then played the first half. I was getting ready to sub him in the second half. I was told, right before I went down to sub him in that he was out. I think there was probably 15 minutes left in the game, because of his ankle. … that was something that we didn’t plan for and didn’t know, and so our rotations all of a sudden had to change quickly.”

Mississippi State would go on to lead by as many as nine points during the matchup, but neither team was able to break away at any point during the close victory. McGhee averages 10.2 points per game, and while his scoring efforts were missed in the lineup in the second half, Josh Hubbard and Jayden Epps went on to combine for 54 points on the night.

The victory improves the Bulldogs to 6-5 on the season and will turn their attention toward Saturday’s matchup vs. Memphis. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. ET live on ESPN. After that, Mississippi State will round out non-conference action against Alabama State on Dec. 29 before beginning SEC play at Texas on Jan. 3.