Southaven, Mississippi – In an exciting Mid-South Showdown on Sunday, Mississippi State managed to come from behind, defeating Utah with a final score of 78-73. Josh Hubbard led the Bulldogs with an impressive 23 points, while Cameron Matthews contributed significantly with clutch free throws as the game neared its conclusion. The Bulldogs’ victory was fueled by a strong second-half performance, overcoming a previously established deficit.

KeShawn Murphy also made his mark, scoring 18 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, proving to be a crucial component for the Bulldogs. Matthews finished the game with 12 points, having an outstanding performance at the free-throw line by making 8 of 10 attempts. Ryan Kugel matched Matthews with 12 points and provided vital support during the game.

As the game progressed, Matthews stepped up during the final moments, hitting two consecutive free throws that helped Mississippi State take a lead of 75-71 in the closing minute. Following a missed shot by Utah, the Bulldogs faced intense defensive pressure which compelled them to use two timeouts to regroup. Utah then fouled Matthews again; he successfully sank one free throw, while Kugel secured an offensive rebound that allowed him to convert a pair of free throws, effectively sealing the game for Mississippi State.

Utah’s Ezra Ausar was the leading scorer for the Utes, contributing 15 points. He was joined by Mason Madsen, who netted 14 points, Keanu Dawes with 13 points, and Miro Little, who added 10 points to the team’s effort. Dawes also made an impact on the boards with 12 rebounds.

The first half saw Utah take control, creating an 11-point lead at halftime, thanks to their strong performance. The Utes dominated the Bulldogs during the latter part of the half, outscoring them 24-11 over a ten-minute stretch, where Dawes contributed seven points and Little made two significant 3-pointers to finish off their scoring run. However, Mississippi State made an impressive comeback, as Hubbard scored 11 points and Murphy added seven, leading the Bulldogs to take a brief lead of 50-44 mid-way through the second half. The game became highly competitive, with the teams exchanging leads multiple times within a three-minute span, making for an exhilarating finish.