The Tennessee Volunteers secured a 73-64 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs, with Ja'Kobi Gillespie leading the charge with 18 points and 5 assists. Tennessee's balanced attack, which included 16 points from Nate Ament and 12 points from J.P. Estrella, proved too much for Mississippi State to handle. The Bulldogs were paced by Josh Hubbard's 31 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Volunteers' 39-28 halftime lead. Tennessee's 9-point margin of victory was just shy of the predicted 11.4-point margin by the CHD Scout model.
Josh Hubbard Scores 31 Points, But Tennessee's Balanced Attack Proves Too Much
The game got off to a strong start for the Tennessee Volunteers, who built a 39-28 lead by halftime. Mississippi State's Josh Hubbard kept his team in the game with 17 first-half points, but the Bulldogs' defense struggled to contain Tennessee's offense. In the second half, the Volunteers continued to pull away, outscoring Mississippi State 34-36. Despite a strong effort from Hubbard, who finished with 31 points, the Bulldogs were unable to overcome the deficit. Tennessee's J.P. Estrella played a key role in the win, grabbing 7 rebounds to help the Volunteers outrebound Mississippi State 34-29. The Bulldogs' Jayden Epps added 9 points and 5 assists, but it wasn't enough to spark a comeback.
The top performers in the game were Josh Hubbard of Mississippi State and Ja'Kobi Gillespie of Tennessee. Hubbard's 31 points led all scorers, while Gillespie's 18 points and 5 assists paced the Volunteers. Nate Ament added 16 points and 5 assists for Tennessee, while J.P. Estrella chipped in with 12 points and 7 rebounds. For Mississippi State, Quincy Ballard scored 8 points, and Jayden Epps contributed 9 points and 5 assists. The strong performances from these players helped to make the game a competitive and exciting matchup, with 12 lead changes and 7 ties throughout the contest.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
The Tennessee Volunteers outshot the Mississippi State Bulldogs 49.1% to 43.1% from the field, and outrebounded them 34-29. The Volunteers also committed fewer turnovers, with 12 compared to Mississippi State's 15. Tennessee's bench outscored Mississippi State's 15-10, and the Volunteers scored 30 points in the paint compared to the Bulldogs' 24. The Bulldogs did have an edge in three-point shooting, making 8 of 20 attempts (40%) compared to Tennessee's 6 of 18 (33.3%). The Volunteers' ability to control the tempo and limit Mississippi State's scoring opportunities ultimately was the difference in the game.
The CHD Scout model predicted a Tennessee victory by 11.4 points, and the Volunteers came close to meeting that expectation with a 9-point win. The model was correct in predicting the winner, and its forecast of a 71-83 score was relatively close to the actual 73-64 outcome. The model's accuracy is a reflection of its ability to analyze team statistics and predict game outcomes. In this case, the model correctly identified Tennessee's strengths and Mississippi State's weaknesses, leading to a accurate prediction. The model's predicted margin of victory was just 2.4 points off from the actual margin, demonstrating its strong predictive capabilities.
The win improves Tennessee's record to 17-7, and the Volunteers' NET ranking remains at 22. The loss drops Mississippi State to 11-13, and the Bulldogs' NET ranking stays at 98. This game was a Quadrant 1 opportunity for Mississippi State, but the loss means they will have to look elsewhere for a marquee win. For Tennessee, the game was a Quadrant 2 win, which helps to bolster their resume. The Volunteers' strength of schedule and win-loss record will be important factors in their tournament seeding, and this win helps to solidify their position. With several games remaining on their schedule, Tennessee want to continue to build momentum and improve their tournament prospects.
The Tennessee Volunteers want to build on their momentum when they face their next opponent, while the Mississippi State Bulldogs will try to bounce back from the loss. The Volunteers' next game is scheduled for [insert date] against [insert opponent], and they want to extend their winning streak. Mississippi State's next game is also scheduled for [insert date] against [insert opponent], and they will be seeking to get back on track.