State Stands Tall at No. 17 Ranking in Men’s Basketball

Mississippi State finished its 2024 calendar year impressively, posting its sixth consecutive victory and improving to 12-1 heading into Southeastern Conference (SEC) play with an 87-73 triumph over Bethune-Cookman on Monday at Humphrey Coliseum. This win marked the second time this season that the Bulldogs have strung together a six-game winning streak, solidifying their dominance in non-conference play.

The matchup with Bethune-Cookman was the second consecutive season the teams have faced off, and Mississippi State extended its perfect record in the series, having won all three contests by an average margin of 17.7 points. Under head coach Chris Jans, the Bulldogs have been nearly untouchable in regular season non-conference games, boasting a stellar 35-3 record. The 35 victories in three seasons under Jans are the most by any Mississippi State head coach over a similar span in program history.

With a 12-1 record heading into SEC competition, Mississippi State has proven itself as one of the top teams in the nation thus far in the 2024 season. The Bulldogs will now shift their focus to the challenges of conference play, but with a balanced attack, relentless defense, and efficient shooting, Coach Jans’ team looks poised for continued success.

The Bulldogs’ next challenge will come in January as they begin their SEC schedule, with an eye on building on their impressive early-season form. With a potent mix of offense and defense, Mississippi State appears ready to make noise in one of the toughest conferences in college basketball.

Author administrator Corinne Ellington