STARKVILLE – Mississippi State men’s basketball fell to 3-4 with an overtime loss to SMU at home on Black Friday. The Mustangs improved to 8-0 with an 87-81 win at The Hump, coming from behind to force overtime and eventually win.
The Bulldogs came out looking well prepared to keep pace with a high-scoring team. Guard Jayden Epps returned to the floor after sitting out the win over New Orleans on Monday and scored 15 points in the first half as MSU took a 43-39 lead. Quincy Ballard added 8 points of his own and did well exchanging with guards Josh Hubbard and Ja’Borri McGhee.
The Mustangs came into the matchup averaging 92.7 points per game through seven contests, and it took some solid offensive production from the Bulldogs to make them uncomfortable.
Epps’ scoring dried up a bit in the second half, but the Bulldogs kept a narrow lead over their visitors heading into the final minutes. Boopie Miller, SMU’s leading scorer, cut the lead to just two points after trailing by nine with a four-point play followed by a quick triple on the next possession. The Bulldogs went on a dry stretch, shooting just 2-11 from the field over about four minutes, but kept getting to the free-throw line to maintain a slim advantage.
SMU finally pulled level in the final minute and forced overtime after a defensive stop on MSU’s final possession of regulation. The Bulldogs’ offensive frustrations continued into overtime, and they fell behind after a couple of sloppy turnovers. Ja’Borri McGhee hit a pair of free throws and a triple to keep them alive, but the Mustangs kept putting up points and getting stops to seal the deal.
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