Hubbard's 30 points and 46-35 rebounding advantage lift Bulldogs to sixth straight win; Sooners manage just three treys
STARKVILLE, Miss. — In their first Southeastern Conference road contest of the 2025-26 season, the Oklahoma Sooners faced a tough challenge against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, resulting in a disappointing 72-53 defeat on Wednesday night at the Humphrey Coliseum.
The loss marked Oklahoma's first setback since early December, halting a promising five-game winning streak and dropping their record to 11-4 overall and 1-1 in SEC play.
The Sooners struggled mightily on the offensive end, shooting a dismal 30.9% from the field (17-of-55) while committing 13 turnovers—the highest number in their last six games.
Despite holding the Bulldogs to 42.4% shooting overall and a paltry 13.3% from beyond the arc (just 2-of-15), Oklahoma was unable to capitalize.
Mississippi State dominated the key statistical battles, outscoring the Sooners 19-10 in second-chance points and 14-7 off turnovers, while also holding a significant 38-16 advantage in points in the paint.
Additionally, the Bulldogs controlled the glass with a 46-35 rebounding edge, further compounding OU's difficulties.
One of the most glaring issues for Oklahoma was their uncharacteristic performance from long range and the charity stripe.
Entering the game ranked fourth in the SEC for three-pointers made per game (averaging 10.5), the Sooners managed a season-low three makes on 20 attempts, good for just 15.0%.
They also missed nine free throws, converting only 16-of-25 attempts.
These inefficiencies prevented Oklahoma from building any sustained momentum in a game that featured sluggish offense from both sides.
Individually, guard Xzayvier Brown and forward Tae Davis paced the Sooners with 13 points and seven rebounds each, though their combined shooting was inefficient at 9-of-29 (31%). Brown added a team-high four assists, standing out as the only Oklahoma player to record multiple assists in a game where ball movement was limited.
Guards Nijel Pack and Derrion Reid each contributed 11 points, providing some secondary scoring, while Jadon Jones added three points and center Mohamed Wague chipped in two.
On the opposing side, Mississippi State guard Josh Hubbard delivered a standout performance, pouring in a game-high 30 points on 11-of-22 shooting.
Remarkably, Hubbard was the only player from either team to make more than five field goals, showcasing his dominance despite a cold night from deep (1-of-7 from three). He excelled inside the arc, going 10-of-15 on two-pointers, and added 7-of-9 from the free-throw line.
Hubbard's scoring outburst, including 12 of the Bulldogs' final 14 points in the closing minutes, helped seal their sixth consecutive victory, improving Mississippi State's record to 10-5 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
The game began with both teams trading blows in a low-scoring, defensive-minded first half. Oklahoma shot 32.3% while Mississippi State managed 34.4%, leading to frequent empty possessions.
The Sooners fell behind by as many as eight points, trailing 23-15 at one stage, but mounted a strong response with a 12-4 run over the final 4:12 of the half to knot the score at 27-27 heading into the locker room.
The second half saw a brief surge from Oklahoma, as a traditional three-point play by Tae Davis with 15:57 remaining gave the Sooners a 38-35 lead.
However, Mississippi State quickly countered with an 8-0 spurt over the next three minutes to reclaim a five-point advantage.
Following a free throw by Derrion Reid, the Bulldogs extended their run with six unanswered points, pushing the lead to 49-39 midway through the period.
As the clock wound down with Oklahoma trailing by eight and roughly seven minutes left, Hubbard took over, personally accounting for much of the Bulldogs' scoring to put the game out of reach.
Notably, Oklahoma had been exceptional in protecting the basketball prior to this contest, posting single-digit turnovers in each of their previous five games—a streak tied for the third-longest by an SEC team over the past 30 years.
The 13 miscues against Mississippi State represented a significant departure from that disciplined form.
UP NEXT: Looking ahead, the Sooners will aim to bounce back quickly as they hit the road again for a matchup against Texas A&M on Saturday.
The Aggies enter the game with a 12-3 overall record and a perfect 2-0 mark in SEC play. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT, with the game broadcast on the SEC Network.
This defeat serves as a reminder of the SEC's competitive depth, where road games often hinge on execution in the paint, rebounding battles, and minimizing self-inflicted wounds.
For Oklahoma, regrouping and rediscovering their offensive rhythm—particularly from three-point range—will be crucial moving forward in what promises to be a challenging conference slate.