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Melendez scores 17 points to lead No. 22 Mississippi State to 81-71 win over No. 19 Ole Miss

AP
Feb 15, 2025

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) R.J. Melendez had 17 points to lead No. 22 Mississippi State's balanced offense for an 81-71 win over No. 19 Mississippi and a season sweep of its in-state rival on Saturday night.

The Bulldogs (18-7, 6-6 Southeastern Conference) got 14 points from Josh Hubbard, while Riley Kugel had 11, and Keshawn Murphy and Claudell Harris Jr. had 10 each.

Jaylen Murray scored 14 and Sean Pedulla had 13 for Ole Miss (19-7, 8-5).

Hubbard was 3 for 13 from the floor, but his teammates had his back as the Bulldogs shot 51.7% in the first half and 43% for the game.

The lead peaked at 67-48 with just under nine minutes left when Kugel got a steal and passed ahead to Shawn Jones Jr. for a layup.

Melendez left the game briefly after a flagrant foul by Jaemyn Brakefield at the 10:50 mark. That resulted in four free throws and possession for the Bulldogs who upped their lead to 62-46.

Mississippi State: The Bulldogs held Ole Miss to 25% shooting from 3-point range.

Ole Miss: The Rebels lead the nation with just 8.8 turnovers per game but had 11 leading to 15 points.

The Rebels, down seven at the break, slipped further behind in the second half as the Bulldogs opened with a 15-11 run to take their first double-figure lead on Murphy’s putback at the 14:20 mark.

Mississippi State: The Bulldogs won the first game 84-81 in overtime. They are now 6-1 against Ole Miss under third-year coach Chris Jans.

Ole Miss: The Rebels were minus-12 on the glass after being minus-22 against the Bulldogs in Starkville.

Mississippi State is at home against No. 8 Texas A&M on Tuesday night. Ole Miss plays at Vanderbilt on Saturday.

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1st Half
MSST
Bulldogs
40
MISS
Rebels
33

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Michael Nwoko vs. Dre Davis (Dre Davis gains possession)
19:35		Dre Davis misses three point jump shot
19:33		Bulldogs defensive rebound
19:16	+3	Josh Hubbard makes three point jump shot (Riley Kugel assists)	3-0
18:59	+3	Malik Dia makes three point jump shot (Sean Pedulla assists)	3-3
18:45	+3	RJ Melendez makes three point jump shot (Josh Hubbard assists)	6-3
18:29	+2	Jaylen Murray makes two point layup (Dre Davis assists)	6-5
18:03		Riley Kugel misses two point layup
18:01		Malik Dia defensive rebound
17:43	+3	Sean Pedulla makes three point jump shot	6-8
17:19		Riley Kugel turnover (Sean Pedulla steals)
17:19	+2	Matthew Murrell makes two point layup (Sean Pedulla assists)	6-10
17:07		Malik Dia shooting foul (Michael Nwoko draws the foul)
17:07	+1	Michael Nwoko makes regular free throw 1 of 2	7-10
17:07		Michael Nwoko misses regular free throw 2 of 2
17:07		Matthew Murrell defensive rebound
16:40		Dre Davis misses two point jump shot
16:38		Josh Hubbard defensive rebound
16:26		Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot
16:24		Sean Pedulla defensive rebound
16:21		Sean Pedulla turnover (Riley Kugel steals)
16:05		RJ Melendez misses three point jump shot
16:03		Rebels defensive rebound
16:03		Michael Nwoko personal foul
15:49	+2	Jaemyn Brakefield makes two point layup	7-12
15:38		TV timeout
15:23		Claudell Harris Jr. misses two point jump shot
15:21		Matthew Murrell defensive rebound
14:48		Mikeal Brown-Jones misses two point layup
14:46		Cameron Matthews defensive rebound
14:46		Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot
14:44		RJ Melendez offensive rebound
14:38		RJ Melendez turnover (Matthew Murrell steals)
14:38	+3	Jaylen Murray makes three point jump shot (Matthew Murrell assists)	7-15
14:27		Jaylen Murray personal foul
14:10	+2	KeShawn Murphy makes two point jump shot	9-15
13:44		Jaylen Murray misses two point jump shot
13:42		Josh Hubbard defensive rebound
13:26	+2	KeShawn Murphy makes two point layup	11-15
13:00		Sean Pedulla misses two point layup
12:58		KeShawn Murphy defensive rebound
12:42		Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot
12:42		Davon Barnes defensive rebound
12:42		Cameron Matthews personal foul
12:29	+3	Sean Pedulla makes three point jump shot (Matthew Murrell assists)	11-18
12:02		KeShawn Murphy turnover (Jaylen Murray steals)
11:56		Shawn Jones Jr. blocks Sean Pedulla's three point jump shot
11:54		Dellquan Warren defensive rebound
11:49		KeShawn Murphy turnover (lost ball)
11:49		TV timeout
11:43		Malik Dia turnover (Michael Nwoko steals)
11:33	+2	Michael Nwoko makes two point dunk (Dellquan Warren assists)	13-18
11:14		Davon Barnes misses two point jump shot
11:12		Michael Nwoko defensive rebound
10:54		Shawn Jones Jr. misses three point jump shot
10:52		Malik Dia defensive rebound
10:34		Malik Dia misses two point layup
10:32		KeShawn Murphy defensive rebound
10:23		KeShawn Murphy misses three point jump shot
10:22		Dre Davis defensive rebound
10:22		Dellquan Warren personal foul
9:57		Jaemyn Brakefield misses three point jump shot
9:55		Riley Kugel defensive rebound
9:48		Riley Kugel turnover (Jaemyn Brakefield steals)
9:39	+2	Matthew Murrell makes two point layup (Jaemyn Brakefield assists)	13-20
9:21	+2	KeShawn Murphy makes two point jump shot	15-20
8:49	+2	Jaemyn Brakefield makes two point layup (Jaylen Murray assists)	15-22
8:49		Riley Kugel shooting foul (Jaemyn Brakefield draws the foul)
8:49		Jaemyn Brakefield misses regular free throw 1 of 1
8:49		KeShawn Murphy defensive rebound
8:39		Sean Pedulla personal foul
8:23	+2	Riley Kugel makes two point jump shot (KeShawn Murphy assists)	17-22
8:14		KeShawn Murphy personal foul
8:08		KeShawn Murphy personal foul
8:03		Sean Pedulla misses two point layup
8:01		Bulldogs defensive rebound
8:01		Mikeal Brown-Jones personal foul
7:44		Cameron Matthews misses two point layup
7:42		Michael Nwoko offensive rebound
7:39	+2	Michael Nwoko makes two point jump shot	19-22
7:19		Davon Barnes turnover (lost ball)
7:19		TV timeout
7:10		Malik Dia blocks Cameron Matthews's two point dunk
7:08		Matthew Murrell defensive rebound
6:59		Jaemyn Brakefield misses two point layup
6:57		RJ Melendez defensive rebound
6:52	+2	RJ Melendez makes two point layup	21-22
6:51		RJ Melendez personal foul (Jaemyn Brakefield draws the foul)
6:51	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 1 of 2	21-23
6:51	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 2 of 2	21-24
6:37		Cameron Matthews turnover (bad pass)
6:21		Dre Davis misses three point jump shot
6:19		Bulldogs defensive rebound
5:54	+2	Riley Kugel makes two point jump shot	23-24
5:40		Sean Pedulla misses three point jump shot
5:38		Bulldogs defensive rebound
5:38		Dre Davis personal foul
5:19		RJ Melendez misses three point jump shot
5:17		Jaemyn Brakefield defensive rebound
5:02	+2	Dre Davis makes two point layup (Eduardo Klafke assists)	23-26
4:52		Josh Hubbard turnover (Jaemyn Brakefield steals)
4:43		Michael Nwoko shooting foul (Malik Dia draws the foul)
4:43		Malik Dia misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:43	+1	Malik Dia makes regular free throw 2 of 2	23-27
4:32	+2	RJ Melendez makes two point layup (Cameron Matthews assists)	25-27
4:20		RJ Melendez personal foul (Jaemyn Brakefield draws the foul)
4:20	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 1 of 2	25-28
4:20	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-29
4:20	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-29
4:01		Eduardo Klafke personal foul
3:43	+2	Claudell Harris Jr. makes two point layup	27-29
3:34	+2	Jaylen Murray makes two point layup	27-31
3:21	+3	Claudell Harris Jr. makes three point jump shot (Cameron Matthews assists)	30-31
3:03		Eduardo Klafke turnover (Riley Kugel steals)
2:45		Jaemyn Brakefield shooting foul (Claudell Harris Jr. draws the foul)
2:45		TV timeout
2:45	+1	Claudell Harris Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	31-31
2:45	+1	Claudell Harris Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	32-31
2:34		Jaemyn Brakefield misses two point layup
2:32		Josh Hubbard defensive rebound
2:15	+3	Riley Kugel makes three point jump shot (Josh Hubbard assists)	35-31
1:51		Jaemyn Brakefield misses two point layup
1:49		Cameron Matthews defensive rebound
1:24		Claudell Harris Jr. misses two point jump shot
1:22		Shawn Jones Jr. offensive rebound
1:17		Riley Kugel misses three point jump shot
1:15		Jaylen Murray defensive rebound
1:14		Claudell Harris Jr. personal foul (Jaylen Murray draws the foul)
1:14	+1	Jaylen Murray makes regular free throw 1 of 2	35-32
1:14	+1	Jaylen Murray makes regular free throw 2 of 2	35-33
1:01		Sean Pedulla personal foul (Cameron Matthews draws the foul)
1:01	+1	Cameron Matthews makes regular free throw 1 of 2	36-33
1:01	+1	Cameron Matthews makes regular free throw 2 of 2	37-33
0:50		Dre Davis misses two point jump shot
0:48		Shawn Jones Jr. defensive rebound
0:39		Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot
0:37		Malik Dia defensive rebound
0:20		Jaylen Murray turnover (Cameron Matthews steals)
0:20		Cameron Matthews turnover (Malik Dia steals)
0:13		Shawn Jones Jr. personal foul (Eduardo Klafke draws the foul)
0:13		Eduardo Klafke misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:13		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
0:13		Eduardo Klafke misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:13		Cameron Matthews defensive rebound
0:09	+3	Claudell Harris Jr. makes three point jump shot (Cameron Matthews assists)	40-33
0:00		Matthew Murrell misses three point jump shot
0:00		Cameron Matthews defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
MSST
Bulldogs
41
MISS
Rebels
38

Time		Play	Score
19:41		Dre Davis blocks Cameron Matthews's two point layup
19:39		Sean Pedulla defensive rebound
19:39		Michael Nwoko personal foul
19:16		Sean Pedulla misses three point jump shot
19:14		KeShawn Murphy defensive rebound
19:06	+2	Josh Hubbard makes two point jump shot	42-33
18:56	+2	Jaylen Murray makes two point jump shot	42-35
18:40		KeShawn Murphy misses two point dunk
18:38		Rebels defensive rebound
18:25		Sean Pedulla misses two point layup
18:24		Malik Dia offensive rebound
18:24		Cameron Matthews shooting foul (Malik Dia draws the foul)
18:24	+1	Malik Dia makes regular free throw 1 of 2	42-36
18:24	+1	Malik Dia makes regular free throw 2 of 2	42-37
18:08	+2	KeShawn Murphy makes two point layup (Josh Hubbard assists)	44-37
18:08		Matthew Murrell shooting foul (KeShawn Murphy draws the foul)
18:08		KeShawn Murphy misses regular free throw 1 of 1
18:08		Malik Dia defensive rebound
17:54	+3	Sean Pedulla makes three point jump shot (Dre Davis assists)	44-40
17:46		Sean Pedulla personal foul
17:46		Josh Hubbard misses two point jump shot
17:44		KeShawn Murphy offensive rebound
17:44		Davon Barnes personal foul (KeShawn Murphy draws the foul)
17:27	+3	Josh Hubbard makes three point jump shot (KeShawn Murphy assists)	47-40
17:12		Jaylen Murray misses two point layup
17:10		Dre Davis offensive rebound
17:07	+2	Dre Davis makes two point dunk	47-42
17:02		Dre Davis blocks KeShawn Murphy's two point layup
17:00		RJ Melendez offensive rebound
16:57	+2	RJ Melendez makes two point layup	49-42
16:57		Jump ball. (Bulldogs gains possession)
16:57		Jump ball. (Bulldogs gains possession)
16:29		Matthew Murrell misses three point jump shot
16:29		Matthew Murrell shooting foul (RJ Melendez draws the foul)
16:29	+1	RJ Melendez makes regular free throw 1 of 2	50-42
16:29		RJ Melendez misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:29		John Bol defensive rebound
16:15		Sean Pedulla turnover (bad pass)
15:59		Cameron Matthews misses two point layup
15:57		Shawn Jones Jr. offensive rebound
15:57		Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot
15:55		Rebels defensive rebound
15:54		TV timeout
15:28	+2	Dre Davis makes two point layup	50-44
15:16		Shawn Jones Jr. misses three point jump shot
15:14		Cameron Matthews offensive rebound
15:13	+2	Cameron Matthews makes two point layup	52-44
15:02		Shawn Jones Jr. personal foul
14:54		Shawn Jones Jr. blocks Dre Davis's two point layup
14:52		Shawn Jones Jr. defensive rebound
14:50		Jaylen Murray shooting foul (Shawn Jones Jr. draws the foul)
14:50	+1	Shawn Jones Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	53-44
14:50		Shawn Jones Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:50		Malik Dia defensive rebound
14:30		Jaylen Murray turnover (lost ball) (Shawn Jones Jr. steals)
14:24		Claudell Harris Jr. misses two point layup
14:22		KeShawn Murphy offensive rebound
14:21	+2	KeShawn Murphy makes two point layup	55-44
14:20		Rebels 30 second timeout
14:20		TV timeout
14:13		Matthew Murrell misses three point jump shot
14:11		Cameron Matthews defensive rebound
14:07		Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot
14:05		Davon Barnes defensive rebound
13:51		Josh Hubbard personal foul
13:41		Sean Pedulla misses three point jump shot
13:39		Bulldogs defensive rebound
13:18		Josh Hubbard misses two point layup
13:16		Davon Barnes defensive rebound
13:09	+2	Davon Barnes makes two point layup	55-46
12:46		Davon Barnes personal foul
12:28		Riley Kugel misses three point jump shot
12:26		Riley Kugel offensive rebound
12:23		Bulldogs turnover (shot clock violation)
12:19		Dre Davis turnover (bad pass) (Riley Kugel steals)
12:12	+2	Riley Kugel makes two point layup	57-46
12:01		KeShawn Murphy blocks Malik Dia's two point layup
11:59		RJ Melendez defensive rebound
11:54	+2	RJ Melendez makes two point layup	59-46
11:54		TV timeout
11:34		KeShawn Murphy blocks Jaemyn Brakefield's two point jump shot
11:32		KeShawn Murphy defensive rebound
11:32		Jump ball. KeShawn Murphy vs. Jaemyn Brakefield (Bulldogs gains possession)
11:12		RJ Melendez misses three point jump shot
11:10		Sean Pedulla defensive rebound
11:01		KeShawn Murphy personal foul
10:54		Dre Davis turnover (bad pass) (Cameron Matthews steals)
10:50		Matthew Murrell shooting foul (RJ Melendez draws the foul)
10:50		Official timeout
10:50		Jaemyn Brakefield technical foul
10:50	+1	Cameron Matthews makes technical free throw 1 of 2	60-46
10:50		Cameron Matthews misses technical free throw 2 of 2
10:50	+1	Riley Kugel makes regular free throw 1 of 2	61-46
10:50	+1	Riley Kugel makes regular free throw 2 of 2	62-46
10:31		Cameron Matthews misses three point jump shot
10:29		Malik Dia defensive rebound
10:21		Malik Dia misses three point jump shot
10:19		Dellquan Warren defensive rebound
10:12		Riley Kugel misses three point jump shot
10:10		Malik Dia defensive rebound
9:54		Malik Dia misses three point jump shot
9:52		Riley Kugel defensive rebound
9:29		Cameron Matthews turnover (lost ball) (Malik Dia steals)
9:24	+2	Malik Dia makes two point dunk (Dre Davis assists)	62-48
9:08	+3	RJ Melendez makes three point jump shot (Cameron Matthews assists)	65-48
8:58		Sean Pedulla turnover (bad pass) (Riley Kugel steals)
8:55	+2	Shawn Jones Jr. makes two point dunk (Riley Kugel assists)	67-48
8:55		Rebels 60 second timeout
8:45		Riley Kugel shooting foul (Matthew Murrell draws the foul)
8:45	+1	Matthew Murrell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-49
8:45	+1	Matthew Murrell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	67-50
8:24		Riley Kugel misses three point jump shot
8:22		Cameron Matthews offensive rebound
8:16		Sean Pedulla personal foul
8:16	+1	Josh Hubbard makes regular free throw 1 of 2	68-50
8:16	+1	Josh Hubbard makes regular free throw 2 of 2	69-50
8:02		Cameron Matthews blocks Davon Barnes's two point layup
8:02		Cameron Matthews defensive rebound
8:02		Josh Hubbard misses two point jump shot
7:51		Matthew Murrell defensive rebound
7:47	+2	Sean Pedulla makes two point layup (Matthew Murrell assists)	69-52
7:23		Mikeal Brown-Jones blocks KeShawn Murphy's two point layup
7:23		Davon Barnes defensive rebound
7:13	+2	Davon Barnes makes two point layup	69-54
7:13		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
7:13		TV timeout
6:49		Josh Hubbard turnover (lost ball)
6:49		Official timeout
6:40	+2	Mikeal Brown-Jones makes two point layup (Sean Pedulla assists)	69-56
6:40		KeShawn Murphy shooting foul (Mikeal Brown-Jones draws the foul)
6:40		Mikeal Brown-Jones misses regular free throw 1 of 1
6:40		Michael Nwoko defensive rebound
6:20		Mikeal Brown-Jones personal foul
6:20	+1	Cameron Matthews makes regular free throw 1 of 2	70-56
6:20		Cameron Matthews misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:18		Bulldogs offensive rebound
6:18		Cameron Matthews turnover (lost ball) (Matthew Murrell steals)
5:51		Davon Barnes misses three point jump shot
5:49		Claudell Harris Jr. defensive rebound
5:35		Michael Nwoko offensive foul
5:35		Michael Nwoko turnover (offensive foul)
5:31		Michael Nwoko blocks Matthew Murrell's two point layup
5:29		Rebels offensive rebound
5:29		Shawn Jones Jr. personal foul
5:29	+1	Mikeal Brown-Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2	70-57
5:29	+1	Mikeal Brown-Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2	70-58
5:02		Josh Hubbard misses two point layup
5:00		Josh Hubbard offensive rebound
4:57	+2	Bulldogs makes two point layup	72-58
4:52		Mikeal Brown-Jones misses three point jump shot
4:50		Claudell Harris Jr. defensive rebound
4:35		Claudell Harris Jr. misses two point layup
4:33		Matthew Murrell defensive rebound
4:25		Josh Hubbard personal foul
4:25		Davon Barnes misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:25	+1	Davon Barnes makes regular free throw 2 of 2	72-59
4:08	+2	Michael Nwoko makes two point jump shot (Josh Hubbard assists)	74-59
4:01		Sean Pedulla misses three point jump shot
3:59		Matthew Murrell offensive rebound
3:55		RJ Melendez personal foul
3:55		TV timeout
3:55	+1	Davon Barnes makes regular free throw 1 of 2	74-60
3:55	+1	Davon Barnes makes regular free throw 2 of 2	74-61
3:45	+2	RJ Melendez makes two point layup (Riley Kugel assists)	76-61
3:36	+2	Mikeal Brown-Jones makes two point layup (Sean Pedulla assists)	76-63
3:04		Michael Nwoko misses three point jump shot
3:02		RJ Melendez offensive rebound
2:58		Riley Kugel misses three point jump shot
2:56		Sean Pedulla defensive rebound
2:56		RJ Melendez personal foul (Sean Pedulla draws the foul)
2:56	+1	Sean Pedulla makes regular free throw 1 of 2	76-64
2:56	+1	Sean Pedulla makes regular free throw 2 of 2	76-65
2:27		Shawn Jones Jr. misses three point jump shot
2:25		Rebels defensive rebound
2:17		Sean Pedulla misses three point jump shot
2:15		Josh Hubbard defensive rebound
2:15		Davon Barnes personal foul (Josh Hubbard draws the foul)
2:12	+1	Josh Hubbard makes regular free throw 1 of 2	77-65
2:12	+1	Josh Hubbard makes regular free throw 2 of 2	78-65
2:06		Sean Pedulla turnover (lost ball) (RJ Melendez steals)
2:06		Eduardo Klafke personal foul
2:06	+1	Josh Hubbard makes regular free throw 1 of 2	79-65
2:06	+1	Josh Hubbard makes regular free throw 2 of 2	80-65
1:54		Josh Hubbard blocks Jaylen Murray's two point jump shot
1:52		Rebels offensive rebound
1:47		Cameron Matthews shooting foul (Malik Dia draws the foul)
1:46	+1	Malik Dia makes regular free throw 1 of 2	80-66
1:46		Malik Dia misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:46		Jaemyn Brakefield offensive rebound
1:42		Robert Cowherd misses three point jump shot
1:40		Bulldogs defensive rebound
1:40		Malik Dia personal foul (Cameron Matthews draws the foul)
1:40		Cameron Matthews misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:40		Cameron Matthews misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:40		Jaylen Murray defensive rebound
1:32		Sean Pedulla misses three point jump shot
1:30		Dre Davis offensive rebound
1:21	+3	Jaylen Murray makes three point jump shot (Dre Davis assists)	80-69
0:47		RJ Melendez misses two point jump shot
0:45		Bulldogs offensive rebound
0:28		Jaemyn Brakefield personal foul
0:28		Shawn Jones Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:28	+1	Shawn Jones Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	81-69
0:20	+2	Jaemyn Brakefield makes two point layup	81-71
0:00		End of period

+ 2

Jaemyn Brakefield makes two point layup