Josh Hubbard scored 16 points and KeShawn Murphy added 14 to lead No. 22 Mississippi State to a 76-75 win at Georgia on Saturday.
Coming off consecutive 20-plus point games, Hubbard made 7-of-14 attempts from the field. Hubbard did, however, struggle with his three-point shot, making only 1-of-5 attempts from beyond the arc.
Despite the tough shooting performance from three, Hubbard was able to find other ways to contribute, pulling down several crucial rebounds and playing strong defense to help his team secure the win.
KeShawn Murphy was also instrumental in the victory, scoring 14 points and dishing out several key assists to help his teammates get open looks at the basket.
The Bulldogs came out strong in the first half, building a double-digit lead at one point. However, the Bulldogs struggled to maintain their intensity in the second half, allowing Georgia to climb back into the game.
With the score tied and only seconds left to play, Mississippi State was able to come up with a crucial stop on defense, and then score the winning basket on their final possession.
The win was a big one for the Bulldogs, who are looking to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament this season. With the victory, Mississippi State improved its record to 18-7 overall and 8-4 in the SEC.
Georgia, on the other hand, fell to 14-11 overall and 4-8 in conference play. The Bulldogs will look to bounce back from the tough loss when they host Arkansas on Wednesday.
Mississippi State will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to face Auburn. The game is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 PM CT and will be televised on the SEC Network.