GAME THREAD – Texas hoops visit MSU, last road game.

[Sirhornsalot]

Only two more games to go . . .​

​

No. 25 Mississippi State wraps home schedule vs. messed-up Texas​

No. 25 Mississippi State gets another chance to build momentum for the postseason when it closes its home schedule against struggling Texas in a key late-season Southeastern Conference game Tuesday in Starkville, Miss.

The Bulldogs (20-9, 8-8 SEC) snapped a two-game losing streak with an 81-69 home win over LSU on Saturday. Josh Hubbard scored 30 points and Riley Kugel added 12 as Mississippi State outscored LSU by 14 points after halftime and bounced back from a 38-point drubbing at then-No. 6 Alabama on Feb. 25.

"It was as big a game as we've had all year long," Mississippi State coach Chris Jans said after the win over LSU. "I put some added pressure on (the team) because I wanted them to feel that way. I wanted them to feel like it was a must-win, because I felt like it was.

"For a number of different reasons, I wanted to see how they'd act in that pressurized situation -- hoping that we're in those types of games here shortly."

Mississippi State shot 64 percent from the floor in the second half and clinched its third consecutive 20-win season.

Saturday was Hubbard's 24th 20-point game of his career, in which the sophomore has started 43 straight games.

"Being a complete player is what I worked on in the offseason," Hubbard said. "Just getting downhill, being aggressive, putting some pressure on the defense."

The Bulldogs' final two games are against squads not ranked in the Top 25. Three of Mississippi State's wins in league play have come versus ranked teams.

The game has added importance for the Longhorns (16-13, 5-11), who likely need to win Tuesday in Starkville and Saturday versus Oklahoma at home in its regular-season finale to be considered for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid.

Texas has put itself in this position by losing six of its last seven contests, including the last three to unranked South Carolina, Arkansas and Georgia. The Longhorns looked completely uninspired Saturday in an 83-67 home setback to Georgia, falling behind by 27 points six minutes into the second half and never making a serious run.

"We didn't get the kind of start we wanted to get off to, especially from an offensive standpoint," Texas coach Rodney Terry said. "I feel like we let that dictate a little bit of our defensive effort to start the ballgame."

Arthur Kaluma led the Longhorns with 15 points while reserve Jayson Kent added 14 and Jordan Pope had 10. Tre Johnson, the SEC's leading scorer at 20.6 points per game, was limited to 12 points and didn't attempt a shot from the floor after halftime.

"We can't be having these first-half lapses and then decide to turn it up in the second half," Texas forward Devon Pryor said. "We need to just start the game off strong every time."

Texas has won five of its eight meetings with the Bulldogs, which includes a 69-55 win in their last matchup November 21, 2012, in the Maui Invitational.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/gametracker/preview/NCAAB_20250304_TEXAS@MISSST/

 

[tejasrulz]

"Texas has put itself in this position by losing six of its last seven contests, including the last three to unranked South Carolina, Arkansas and Georgia. The Longhorns looked completely uninspired Saturday in an 83-67 home setback to Georgia, falling behind by 27 points six minutes into the second half and never making a serious run."

That's PC sports talk for "looked like sh*t!".

 

[tejasrulz]

After a slow start, the Horns have tied it at 15s with 10mins left in the 1st half. Glad to see Johnson recognizing the double team and finding open teammates.

 

[tejasrulz]

At the half, 37-32 Texas. Could be more but we missed 3 point blank shots under the basket.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Texas up 42-36 as we go into the 2nd half

 

[BWilk55]

Up 62-59 with 5 minutes left

 

[BWilk55]

OT - I wasn't watching but following on Twitter. Sounds like a poor job of closing out the game with a late lead.

Earned the lead in OT and trying to close it out.

 

[BWilk55]

OT - I wasn't watching but following on Twitter. Sounds like a poor job of closing out the game with a late lead.

Earned the lead in OT and trying to close it out.

Closed it out to get the win over Miss St.

The team was on the wrong side of the bubble going in, this win could swing them back into a tournament team but it's still iffy at this point. Would obviously need to beat OU as well.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Texas 87
#25 Miss State 82
FINAL

 

[tejasrulz]

Big win on the road. I admit I didn’t watch the 2nd half due to the Presidential Address to Congress but I’ve taped it and will watch it tomorrow morning.

One thing I heard the announcers say during the 1st half was Texas was playing with more enthusiasm than they were last Saturday.

 

[Sunkist]

Extend Terry?

 

[RickyFlair]

Extend Terry?

Extend him an invitation to hit the pavement. Let the door hit you where the good Lord split ya.

 

[tejasrulz]

Extend Terry?

I'm believing this is sarcasm, however Terry would have to have one heck of a run deep into the NCAA tournament for CDC to consider that.

 

[tejasrulz]

I finished watching the 2nd half/OT this morning. For the majority of the 2nd half, the Horns looked good. Then when 4:44 left it the game and leading 68-59, the wheels fell off. The Horns had two 10 second violations, a couple of shot clock expirations, several TOs and just overall bad basketball. Last night I was watching it via the ESPN tracker and when I saw it went to OT I had a feeling we let another victory slide between our fingers. However, the Horns came out to play and with a little luck (bad FT shooting from Miss St), they pulled it out 87-82.

T Mark had a great game, maybe his best as a Horn.

The team that played last night needs to show up this Saturday against ou. Every game from here on out should be played a tournament game, win and advance or lose and go home.

 

[BWilk55]

I finished watching the 2nd half/OT this morning. For the majority of the 2nd half, the Horns looked good. Then when 4:44 left it the game and leading 68-59, the wheels fell off. The Horns had two 10 second violations, a couple of shot clock expirations, several TOs and just overall bad basketball. Last night I was watching it via the ESPN tracker and when I saw it went to OT I had a feeling we let another victory slide between our fingers. However, the Horns came out to play and with a little luck (bad FT shooting from Miss St), they pulled it out 87-82.

T Mark had a great game, maybe his best as a Horn.

The team that played last night needs to show up this Saturday against ou. Every game from here on out should be played a tournament game, win and advance or lose and go home.

That last sentence should have been the case for the last few games and yet this team didn't seem up for it. That is what was really damning of Terry and this team. Getting blown out by SEC bottom feeder UGA at home with the post-season on the line???

Fortunately for this team the NCAA tournament bubble has been described as "weak". Meaning there aren't many other good teams on the cusp of making the tournament waiting to knock Texas out. So, even with a relatively weak resume, Texas still has a shot.

 

[Baron]

The ou sucks game is a must win. The Horns are the 13th seed right now and can not move up in the SEC seedings. If piggy and/or UGa lose their last game they still have the head to head against Texas. If ou suck beats Texas I am pretty sure we drop to the 16th seed, but regardless would play each other in the 1st round of the SEC tournament.
Lunardi has Texas and ou sucks in the first four out so it must just be exercise in futility right now.