Tennessee Routs Mississippi State Behind Gillespie's Big Game

Ja'Kobi Gillespie scores 18 points as Volunteers cruise to 73-64 victory

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Ja'Kobi Gillespie scored a team-high 18 points, including 12 in the second half, to lead the Tennessee Volunteers to a 73-64 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville, Mississippi. Nate Ament added 16 points for Tennessee, which never trailed in the game. Josh Hubbard paced Mississippi State with 31 points, but no other Bulldogs player scored in double figures.

Why it matters

The win keeps Tennessee in the hunt for a top-four finish in the SEC standings, while Mississippi State continues to struggle in conference play this season.

The details

Tennessee jumped out to an early lead and extended it to 20 points in the second half before Mississippi State made a late run to trim the deficit to five. However, the Volunteers were able to hold on for the victory. Gillespie and Ament made key plays down the stretch to seal the win for Tennessee.

  • Tennessee led 39-28 at halftime.
  • Gillespie scored the first seven points of the second half to extend Tennessee's lead.
  • Mississippi State went on an 18-0 run to cut the deficit to five points with 10 minutes remaining.
  • Tennessee responded with an 8-0 run to push the lead back to 13 points.

The players

Ja'Kobi Gillespie

A key player for the Tennessee Volunteers, scoring a team-high 18 points in the win.

Nate Ament

Scored 16 points for Tennessee, including two key three-point plays in the final minutes to help seal the victory.

Josh Hubbard

Led Mississippi State with 31 points, but the Bulldogs were unable to overcome the early deficit.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

Tennessee's balanced scoring attack and strong defensive effort proved too much for Mississippi State, as the Volunteers continued their push for a top-four finish in the SEC standings.