TUPELO, Miss. - Looking to snap its recent skid, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team (5-4) will head to the Magnolia State for its fourth neutral site game in the last five contests, facing Mississippi State (4-4) in the T Town Tipoff on Sunday afternoon at Cadence Bank Arena.
 
GAME 10 DETAILS:
Opponent: Mississippi State (4-4)
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m. PT / 3:00 p.m. CT
Location: Tupelo, Miss./Cadence Bank Arena
Watch: SEC Network (John Schriffen, Daymeon Fishback)
Listen: KNBR 1050 (Pat Olson)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
 
DONS AT A GLANCE:

• In their return to the Hilltop on Wednesday night, San Francisco was unable to get past North Alabama, falling 65-63 at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center. Despite the struggles, Mookie Cook led the team with 12 points, seven rebounds, and a career-high five blocks off the bench, the most blocks by a Don since Yauhen Massalki's seven-block performance on Jan. 27, 2022, vs. Saint Mary's. Another bright spot for San Francisco was the clutch heroics of freshman Legend Smiley, who hit back-to-back three-pointers in the final minute of the game, tying the game at 63 apiece. Smiley finished the night with 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting from deep in 15 minutes off the bench.
• San Francisco looks to end a three-game skid with another opportunity on a neutral court, as fourth-year head coach Chris Gerlufsen will head into Tupelo with a 7-7 regular season record in neutral site contests at USF.
• This season, the green and gold won its first neutral site game two weeks ago against Minnesota (Nov. 22, 77-65 W) in Sioux Falls, before falling in back-to-back contests to Colorado (Nov. 27, 79-69 L) and Nevada (Nov. 28, 81-65 L) in Palm Desert at the Acrisure Series on Thanksgiving weekend. Following the matchup against Mississippi State, the Dons will play one last neutral site game in nonconference play on Dec. 17, facing Loyola Chicago at Chase Center.
• San Francisco continues to display its depth off the bench, with USF currently ranking 27th nationally in bench points per game at 35.56.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS:

• Mississippi State has begun its 2025-26 campaign with an even 4-4 record, most recently having bumped up to .500 on the year with an 85-73 win at Georgia Tech on Wednesday night to claim its first win away from home this season. Junior guard Josh Hubbard led the Bulldogs in the victory over the Yellow Jackets with 25 points, four rebounds, and five assists on 8-of-14 shooting from the floor and a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line.
• Hubbard has led MSU's offense in the early season, leading the team in both scoring and assists with 23.5 points and 4.4 assists per game on 43.2/34.8./78.6 splits. He currently leads the SEC in scoring, ranking third nationally behind only PJ Haggerty (Kansas State/25.1) and Cameron Boozer (Duke/23.1).
• The Bulldogs enter their fourth season under head coach Chris Jans, who has led Mississippi State to the NCAA Tournament in each of his first three seasons in Starkville. Coach Jans is seeking a fourth consecutive trip to March Madness and his first-ever victory in the NCAA Tournament as head coach of the Bulldogs.
• Last season, Mississippi State compiled a 21-13 record (8-10 SEC) to earn an 8-seed in March Madness. Ultimately, the Bulldogs fell to Baylor, 75-72, in a tight first round matchup, where Hubbard led the game with 26 points.

SERIES HISTORY:

• Sunday afternoon's bout between San Francisco and Mississippi State will mark the first all-time meeting between the two squads in program history.
• Notably, the matchup against the Bulldogs will mark USF's first matchup against an SEC team since a 73-60 victory on the road at Vanderbilt nearly two years ago to the date on Dec. 6, 2023. In the win over the Commodores, current Toronto Raptor Jonathan Mogbo logged a 10-assist, 14-rebound double-double.

FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the San Francisco men's basketball program, follow the Dons @USFDonsMBB on Twitter, @USFDonsMBB on Instagram, and @USFDonsMBB on Facebook.
 
MERCHANDISE:
Want to dress like the Dons? Get your official San Francisco Dons gear from the University of San Francisco bookstore today! Click here to purchase.
 
SPONSOR US:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our sponsor - Twenty Five Ventures - for their continued support of San Francisco Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.