Tennessee Handles Mississippi State Despite Hubbard's 31 Points

Josh Hubbard's big night wasn't enough as Tennessee's balanced scoring attack proved too much for the Bulldogs.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Josh Hubbard scored 31 points for Mississippi State, but it wasn't enough as Tennessee defeated the Bulldogs 73-64 in Starkville. The Volunteers used a balanced scoring effort, with Ja'kobi Gillespie leading the way with 18 points, Nate Ament adding 16, and JP Estrella chipping in 12. Tennessee took control of the game with a 12-0 run in the first half and never relinquished the lead, despite a late push by Mississippi State.

Why it matters

This loss is a setback for Mississippi State in the SEC race, as the Bulldogs struggled to find consistent scoring support for Hubbard. Tennessee, on the other hand, demonstrated its ability to win on the road against a conference opponent by relying on its depth and balanced attack.

The details

Tennessee built a 23-point lead in the second half, but Mississippi State made a late 23-10 run to cut the deficit to single digits. However, the Bulldogs were unable to complete the comeback, as Hubbard's 31 points were not enough to overcome the Volunteers' overall team effort.

  • Tennessee ripped off a 12-0 run with 7:59 left in the first half to take control of the game.
  • Tennessee built a 23-point lead at 63-40 with 10:14 remaining in the second half.

The players

Josh Hubbard

A Mississippi State guard who scored 31 points in the game, keeping the Bulldogs in the contest.

Ja'kobi Gillespie

A Tennessee player who led the Volunteers with 18 points.

Nate Ament

A Tennessee player who scored 16 points for the Volunteers.

JP Estrella

A Tennessee player who contributed 12 points to the Volunteers' balanced scoring attack.

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What they’re saying

“Thirty-one points against a ranked SEC opponent isn't empty production. It's proof of capability.”

— Andy Hodges, Sports writer (Dawgs Feed)

The takeaway

This game highlighted the importance of balanced scoring for Mississippi State, as the Bulldogs struggled to find consistent secondary scoring options to support Hubbard's impressive individual performance. Tennessee, on the other hand, demonstrated its ability to win on the road by relying on its depth and team-oriented approach.