josh hubbard drills nine 3s in record-setting first half, lifts Bulldogs at Humphrey Coliseum
STARKVILLE — Josh Hubbard produced a historic offensive outburst in the first half on Feb. 18 (ET), sinking nine 3-pointers and scoring 35 points to break the program’s single-game long-range record in only 20 minutes. The junior’s torrid shooting carried Mississippi State to a 49-33 halftime edge over Auburn at Humphrey Coliseum and provided another high point in a season of mixed results for the Bulldogs.
Record night from deep, phenomenal first-half efficiency
Hubbard was near-perfect from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, making 13 of 18 field-goal attempts and connecting on 9 of 12 from beyond the arc. The nine 3-pointers erased a long-standing single-game standard of eight, a mark previously reached six times in program history. He needed just one half to vault past that barrier, finishing the stanza with 35 points while the Bulldogs built a 16-point advantage.
The performance extended a hot stretch for Hubbard, who has now produced three consecutive 30-point games. He scored 31 against Tennessee on Feb. 11 and 32 in the Ole Miss matchup on Feb. 14, the latter win in which he also claimed the program career 3-point record. Through roughly 90 career games, Hubbard has piled up a prolific scoring ledger, and this latest explosion underscored how central he remains to the team’s offense.
Scoring heroics amid broader team struggles and future questions
Even as Hubbard delivers nightly scoring, the Bulldogs have struggled to convert that production into consistent wins. After the Feb. 18 contest the team sat with a losing overall record and a sub-. 500 mark in conference play, reflecting a season that has often been defined by defensive lapses and inefficiencies at crucial moments. Coach comments this month have pointed to practice effort translating inconsistently into game execution, leaving a disconnect between preparation and results.
Hubbard’s personal trajectory is also a storyline to watch. A Madison native and the son of Jason Hubbard, he faces a decision about whether to test professional options or return for another collegiate season. His father said the family will evaluate the situation at the end of the year, leaving those plans open as the season winds down. For the present, when the ball is in his hands there remains optimism that he can tilt games in the Bulldogs’ favor.
Recognition and reaction
The first-half barrage drew attention beyond the arena. A high-profile relative offered public encouragement during the outburst, sending celebratory social-media messages that captured the moment as Hubbard climbed toward the record. The reactions highlighted how the junior’s shooting touch has resonated nationally and within his circle.
Hubbard’s streaks have included more than one program milestone this season: in addition to the single-game 3-point record and the career mark he claimed earlier, he recently reached a conference milestone for consecutive games with a made 3-pointer before that particular streak ended. Despite the highs, team consistency remains an issue; the Bulldogs have alternated flashes of elite offense with defensive breakdowns that have limited their standing in league play.
On nights like Feb. 18 (ET), Hubbard proved capable of carrying his team to big leads and forcing opponents to scramble for answers. Whether those flashes can be turned into a sustained run of wins will determine both Mississippi State’s postseason prospects and the decisions Hubbard weighs this spring about his next steps in basketball.
