Mississippi State Edges Past Tennessee in a Close Contest at Humphrey Coliseum

The Mississippi State Bulldogs emerged victorious with a 77-72 win over the Tennessee Volunteers. The Bulldogs, unranked in the collegiate standings, showcased their determination against the fifth-ranked Volunteers. Both teams fought hard, but it was the home team that improved their record while handing their opponents a setback.

At Humphrey Coliseum, fans of the Bulldogs witnessed an intense matchup where both teams displayed formidable defense and offense. The Bulldogs matched up evenly with the Volunteers in blocks and assists, each tallying 3 and 12 respectively. However, Mississippi State outshined Tennessee with a higher field goal percentage of 50 percent compared to Tennessee's 46 percent.

The home team's two-point shooting was particularly effective as they made 20 out of 34 attempts resulting in a solid 59 percent conversion rate. Their prowess from beyond the arc also contributed to their success; they sank six three-pointers at a rate of 33 percent. Free throws were another area where Mississippi State excelled; they hit an impressive 70 percent from the line.

Rebounding was equally contested by both squads with each grabbing a total of 33 rebounds throughout the game. The Bulldogs' defensive efforts were highlighted by stealing possession from Tennessee on ten occasions and converting these opportunities into crucial points off turnovers.

One standout aspect for Mississippi State was their ability to capitalize on turnovers despite committing more themselves (18 for MSST vs TENN's16). They scored an impactful number of points off turnovers (20), which played a significant role in maintaining pressure on Tennessee throughout the game.

The Volunteers did not go down without showcasing their strengths; they demonstrated quick transitions scoring an impressive number of fast break points (22) and managed to steal significantly more than Mississippi State (15 steals). Their two-point shooting accuracy stood at an admirable rate as well (63 percent).

As for individual performances, no specific player statistics were provided; however, it is clear that teamwork played an essential role in this closely contested conference game which saw four ties and five lead changes before reaching its conclusion.

Looking ahead, fans can mark their calendars for when Mississippi State will face off against Alabama Crimson Tide at Humphrey Coliseum located at Starkville on January 13th at 7:30 PM Central Time. This upcoming match will be broadcast nationally on SEC Network channel number six hundred eleven for those who wish to follow along from afar or cannot make it to witness the action live.