Mississippi State Eliminated by Baylor 75-72 in NCAA Tournament

Mississippi State's basketball season came to a disappointing end as they were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in the first round, losing 75-72 to Baylor. The Bulldogs, who were the No. 8 seed, found themselves trailing by 11 points in the second half but rallied to make it a close game. Coach Chris Jans expressed disappointment in not achieving higher goals set for the season, noting that despite reaching the tournament, they have yet to secure a win since 2008. The team struggles included a missed opportunity in the final seconds when Claudell Harris Jr. took a last-minute shot instead of star player Josh Hubbard, who had previously scored 26 points. With the transfer portal opening soon, Mississippi State will begin to evaluate potential roster changes, as several key players are out of eligibility. Jans emphasized the importance of building on their experiences as they prepare for the next season.