Mississippi State seeks to extend its impressive home win streak against Bethune-Cookman
- No. 17 Mississippi State secured a strong victory over Bethune-Cookman with an 87-73 score.
- Riley Kugel's standout performance included 22 points, aiding Mississippi State's success.
- The Bulldogs now aim to extend their winning streak into the Southeastern Conference games.
On December 30, 2024, in Starkville, Mississippi, No. 17 Mississippi State faced Bethune-Cookman in a college basketball matchup. The game started with Mississippi State establishing an early lead, going up 20-9. However, Bethune-Cookman fought back, showcasing impressive shooting, including a 58% success rate in the first half, and narrowing the gap to just one point at 27-26. Ultimately, Mississippi State managed to maintain control and surged ahead with a decisive 16-4 run midway through the second half to secure an 87-73 victory. This win allowed Mississippi State to improve its record to 12-1 for the season, while Bethune-Cookman dropped to 3-10. The Bulldogs showcased strong performances, with Riley Kugel leading the team with 22 points and Josh Hubbard contributing 16 points. Despite the Wildcats' commendable effort, which included Trey Thomas and Brayon Freeman scoring 21 points each for their team, they could not overcome the Bulldogs' consistent scoring and strong second-half performance. Thomas was ejected in the second half, which impacted the Wildcats' chances of staging a comeback. Mississippi State's victory capped off their nonconference play with a notable 12-1 record, marking the most nonconference wins for coach Chris Jans during his tenure with the team. The Bulldogs had previously recorded significant victories, including road wins against Memphis and SMU. As the Bulldogs look ahead to their SEC schedule, they are on the rise, headlined by several strong individual performances throughout the game. Conversely, Bethune-Cookman concludes their nonconference schedule with a disappointing performance, having lost six of their last seven games. The Wildcats are keen to rebound as they prepare to enter SWAC action against Florida A&M. This matchup serves as a stark reminder of the challenges they faced in the nonconference portion of their schedule, which primarily featured tough opponents from Power Five conferences. As the season progresses, both teams will look to improve their standing with upcoming games lined up.