LSU
Miss State
STARKVILLE, Miss. (02/28/2026) — The No. 6 ranked LSU Tigers overcame a slow start to secure a hard-fought 72-63 road victory against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Humphrey Coliseum on Saturday. The Tigers leaned on a dominant second quarter and superior shooting to fend off a resilient Bulldogs squad in the SEC regular-season finale.
How It Happened
Mississippi State jumped out to an early 12-3 lead in the first quarter, controlling the game's initial pace. However, LSU stormed back, erupting in the second quarter by outscoring the Bulldogs 23-8 to take a 35-22 lead into halftime.
The Bulldogs didn't back down, mounting a 13-0 run in the third quarter to briefly retake the lead at 41-38. The teams traded blows before LSU regained control, ending the third period with a 54-47 advantage. The fourth quarter saw the Tigers maintain their lead, holding off Mississippi State for the conference win.
LSU's efficiency was a key factor. The Tigers shot 46% from the field compared to Mississippi State's 32%. LSU also held a crucial 44-40 rebounding advantage, which helped offset 20 turnovers.
Star of the Game
Junior guard Mikaylah Williams was the standout performer, leading LSU with a stellar double-double. Williams posted a season-high 26 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, consistently making crucial plays on both ends of the floor. She shot an efficient 10-for-17 from the field and added four assists.
Other key contributors for LSU included junior MiLaysia Fulwiley, who scored 16 points, and sophomore Jada Richard, who added 12 points.
For Mississippi State, Kharyssa Richardson led the scoring effort with 18 points. Freshman Madison Francis was a force defensively, finishing with 13 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks, breaking the single-season freshman record for blocks in the process. Favour Nwaedozi also chipped in with a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds.
What It Means
The victory marks LSU's fourth consecutive win to close out the regular season, improving their overall record to 26-4 and 12-4 in the SEC. The win solidifies their position near the top of the conference standings and provides strong momentum heading into the SEC Tournament, where they have secured a double-bye.
For Mississippi State, the loss drops them to 18-12 overall and 5-11 in conference play. Despite the tough home loss, the Bulldogs showed significant fight against a top-ranked opponent as they prepare for the opening round of the SEC tournament.