Mississippi State emphatically snapped a five-game losing streak with a comprehensive 80-66 victory over LSU at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The Bulldogs controlled the contest from the opening tip, utilizing a blistering start to establish a lead they would never relinquish while delivering their most complete offensive showing of the conference season.
The night also served a greater purpose beyond the hardwood, with LSU Associate Head Coach David Patrick pledging a personal donation to the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Patrick committed to donating $1 for every student in attendance to support cancer research efforts. A crowd of 7,501 fans was on hand to witness the SEC clash, providing a significant boost to the charitable initiative.
On the court, Mississippi State’s first-half performance was clinical. The Bulldogs matched their season average for three-pointers before the intermission, sinking seven of fourteen attempts from beyond the arc. This perimeter accuracy, combined with a dominant 12-rebound edge at the half, allowed the visitors to storm out to a commanding 44-21 lead by the break.
LSU attempted to mount a comeback in the second period, outscoring the Bulldogs 45-36, but the deficit proved too steep to overcome. Josh Hubbard led a balanced Mississippi State attack with 15 points, while Sergej Macura recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. For the Tigers, Max Mackinnon scored 15 points, but the hosts struggled to find consistency, falling to their third consecutive defeat.
Mississippi State now moves to 11-10 on the season and will look to build on this momentum when they visit Missouri this Saturday. LSU, now 13-8 overall, faces a quick turnaround as they travel to take on South Carolina.
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