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Josh Hubbard and Quincy Ballard pace Mississippi State in 80-66 win over LSU

Josh Hubbard and Quincy Ballard pace Mississippi State in 80-66 win over LSU | iNFOnews.ca
From left, Mississippi State forward Jamarion Davis-Fleming (0), Mississippi State guard Ja'Borri McGhee (2) and Mississippi State guard Shawn Jones Jr. (5) pressure LSU guard Max Mackinnon (3) under the basket, Wednesday, Jan 28, 2026, in Baton Rouge, La. (Hillary Scheinuk/The Advocate via AP)

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Josh Hubbard scored 15 points, Quincy Ballard added 13 and Mississippi State dominated LSU from the start in an 80-66 victory on Wednesday night.

Mississippi State shot 60% and outrebounded LSU 17-5 in the first 10 minutes while building a 30-10 lead. Later in the half, a 13-3 run left the Bulldogs with a 44-17 lead. It was 44-21 at halftime.

LSU was within 58-42 seven minutes into the second half before Epps hit two 3-pointers in a 10-2 Mississippi State run and the Bulldogs led 68-44.

The biggest lead of the second half was 72-46 with about 10 minutes remaining. LSU kept the margin under 20 points for the final six minutes, which included the game’s final five points. It was the closest the game had been since 12 1/2 minutes remained in the first half.

Max Mackinnon scored 15 points, Dedan Thomas Jr. and Rashad King had 14 each and Pablo Tamba added 10 for LSU (13-8, 1-7 SEC).

Ja’Borri McGhee added 11 points and Sergej Macura had 10 for Mississippi State (11-10, 3-5).

Mississippi State bounced back after losing by 32 to then-No. 15 Vanderbilt on Saturday.

Up next

Mississippi State is at Missouri on Saturday.

LSU visits South Carolina on Saturday.

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Josh Hubbard and Quincy Ballard pace Mississippi State in 80-66 win over LSU | iNFOnews.ca
LSU guard Dedan Thomas Jr. (11) drives the ball around Mississippi State guard Jayden Epps (10), Wednesday, Jan 28, 2026, in Baton Rouge, La. (Hillary Scheinuk/The Advocate via AP)
Josh Hubbard and Quincy Ballard pace Mississippi State in 80-66 win over LSU | iNFOnews.ca
Mississippi State guard Shawn Jones Jr. (5) pulls the ball away from LSU forward Pablo Tamba (8) as forward Achor Achor looks on during an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Jan 28, 2026, in Baton Rouge, La. (Hillary Scheinuk/The Advocate via AP)

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