Mississippi State guard Josh Hubbard steps onto the floor Monday night in Starkville, Mississippi, needing just 195 points to claim the program’s all-time scoring record, heraldonline.com reported.
The preseason All-Southeastern Conference selection enters his fourth year with the Bulldogs as an anomaly in modern college basketball. While roster turnover defines the sport today, Hubbard has stayed put, positioning himself to eclipse Jeff Malone’s benchmark of 2,142 points set between 1979 and 1983. Hubbard currently sits fourth on the career list with 1,947 points.
𝟏𝟐 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝟏𝟐 – Josh Hubbard’s High School Jersey Retirement Josh Hubbard and his family return to Madison and reflect on a transcendent career that is still being written. pic.twitter.com/vvsQf10wWn
Last season, the Mississippi native ranked second in the SEC and 10th nationally by averaging 22.1 points per game. Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans leans heavily on that production for a squad projected 15th in the conference preseason poll following a 13-19 campaign.
“Obviously Josh has been a staple for us in my tenure going into his fourth year, which is not the norm in the landscape of college basketball,” Jans said. “Our relationship continues to grow. My understanding of who he is, how to coach him, where to get him in his spots, has gotten better with each season that I’ve had the opportunity to coach him.”
To help shoulder the offensive load, the Bulldogs added fourth-year guard RJ Johnson from Kennesaw State via the transfer portal. Johnson averaged 14.5 points and 4.0 assists while shooting 42.3% from beyond the arc last season, earning All-Conference USA honors.
Jans noted that Johnson transformed his physique ahead of the new campaign, shedding 27 pounds to improve his quickness on the floor.
Monday’s contest marks Mississippi State’s pursuit of a 17th consecutive home-opening win. Across the court stands a Tennessee Tech program entering a new chapter under first-year coach Tobin Anderson.
The Golden Eagles transition to the Southern Conference after a 77-year run in the Ohio Valley Conference. Anderson takes over in Starkville following a tenure at Fairleigh Dickinson, where he directed the historic 2023 NCAA Tournament upset when No. 16 seed FDU toppled top-seeded Purdue.
Tennessee Tech returns two players from a 13-18 team in Ty Owens, who averaged 6.8 points, and Mekhi Turner, who contributed 4.1. The roster also gains three double-digit transfer scorers: Davante Hackett from Stonehill at 13.6 points per game, Trent Mosquera from Le Moyne at 13.5, and Cbo Newton from Abilene Christian at 10.1.
Tipoff arrives Monday night as Hubbard chases history and Anderson launches a fresh era in a new league.
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