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Mississippi State Looks to Fix Slow Starts Against Central Michigan
Mississippi State will aim to clean up its sluggish starts when it faces Central Michigan on Tuesday night in Jackson, Miss. The Bulldogs (8-1) remain one of the SEC’s stronger teams, but recent close calls against non-power-conference opponents have exposed some vulnerabilities.
Bulldogs’ Need for Faster Starts
Mississippi State has made a habit of playing from behind recently, and it has nearly cost them. The Bulldogs found themselves in a 15-point hole before rallying for a 91-84 win over Prairie View A&M on Dec. 8. They followed that with another nail-biter against McNeese State on Saturday, clawing back from an eight-point first-half deficit to eke out a 66-63 victory.
RJ Melendez, who sealed the McNeese win with two clutch free throws, acknowledged the need for urgency right from the opening tip.
“We have to start the first half like we start the second half,” Melendez said. “We can’t wait until we get smacked in the face to respond.”
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Coach Chris Jans, known for his gritty style, has seen his team’s recent struggles but doesn’t want every game to turn into a slugfest.
“We haven’t talked about rock fights or making a game an alley fight,” Jans said. “In the past a lot of the games we played ended up being that way and we made it that way to be honest.”
Hubbard Leading the Charge
Mississippi State’s offense runs through Josh Hubbard, who leads the team with 18.7 points per game. While he went quiet late in the first half against McNeese State, his scoring ability remains the Bulldogs’ biggest weapon.
KeShawn Murphy adds an inside presence with 10.6 points and a team-leading 7.7 rebounds per game, while Cam Matthews contributes 7.9 points and 6.9 boards. Together, they form a solid foundation that Mississippi State hopes will be enough to avoid falling into early deficits.
Central Michigan Facing Challenges
Central Michigan (5-4) enters the game coming off a tough 93-77 loss to Valparaiso on Saturday. The Chippewas are dealing with injuries that have hampered their practices and rotations. Coach Tony Barbee highlighted how challenging it’s been to prepare under these circumstances.
“Our rotation guys have had to go against managers and walk-ons every day,” Barbee said. “Iron sharpens iron and it’s hard to get better when half our team is in street clothes.”
Despite the hurdles, the Chippewas boast a balanced offensive attack, with five players averaging double figures. Preseason MAC Player of the Year Anthony Pritchard leads the way with 13.6 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game. Jakobi Heady (13.1), Ugnius Jarusevicius (12.4), Kyler Vanderjagt (11.4), and sixth man Damarion Bonds (11.0) provide additional scoring depth.
Key Matchup: Mississippi State’s Defense vs. Central Michigan’s Guards
Central Michigan relies heavily on its guard play, with Pritchard and Heady leading the charge. Mississippi State’s defense will need to apply pressure early and limit open looks from Central Michigan’s shooters, particularly after their slow starts in recent games.
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On offense, the Bulldogs must execute with more consistency, especially in the first half. If Josh Hubbard and RJ Melendez can set the tone early, Mississippi State should have the upper hand against a Chippewas team still trying to find its footing.
What’s at Stake
For Mississippi State, this game is an opportunity to address their slow starts and build momentum heading into SEC play next month. A strong, wire-to-wire performance would go a long way toward solidifying their place as an SEC contender.
For Central Michigan, it’s about battling through adversity. A competitive showing against a strong SEC team could provide a morale boost as they look to build chemistry and regain health.
Will Mississippi State come out with urgency, or can Central Michigan hang around and make this another close game? The Bulldogs have the tools—they just need to bring the energy from the opening whistle.
