Mississippi State vs. Tennessee Tech: Josh Hubbard primed to lead scoring charge

Preview: Bulldogs host Tennessee Tech with spotlight on veteran scorer

Mississippi State opens its season Monday in Starkville against Tennessee Tech, and all attention will be on senior guard Josh Hubbard. The preseason All-Southeastern Conference pick returns for a rare fourth year at his hometown program and sits just shy of the school’s career scoring record.

Hubbard has accumulated 1,947 points in his Bulldog career, placing him fourth on Mississippi State’s all-time list and 195 points short of Jeff Malone’s mark (1979–83). Last season he averaged 22.1 points per game — good for second in the SEC and 10th nationally — and Mississippi State will again lean on him as it tries to improve on a 13–19 finish a year ago.

Coach Chris Jans praised the continuity Hubbard brings, noting their growing rapport and how his ability to place Hubbard in optimal scoring situations has improved with time. Jans also emphasized that having a fourth-year player of Hubbard’s caliber is uncommon in today’s college basketball landscape.

Roster moves around Mississippi State’s focal point

To better support Hubbard, the Bulldogs added guard RJ Johnson via the transfer portal. Johnson arrives from Kennesaw State after a season in which he averaged 14.5 points and 4.0 assists while hitting 42.3% from beyond the arc — performances that earned him All-Conference USA recognition.

Jans highlighted Johnson’s physical transformation since joining the program, saying he’s trimmed roughly 27 pounds, which has improved his quickness and overall feel on the court. The pairing of Hubbard’s scoring and Johnson’s outside shooting and playmaking is intended to help a team that preseason voters pegged to finish near the bottom of the league (15th in the SEC poll).

Mississippi State will also be chasing history of its own in a smaller way: the Bulldogs are aiming to extend their streak of home-opening victories to 17.

Tennessee Tech arrives in a new league under a fresh coach

Monday’s matchup also carries significance for Tennessee Tech, which begins life in the Southern Conference after spending 77 years in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Golden Eagles are undergoing a transition beyond conference lines, too: this is the debut season for head coach Tobin Anderson.

Anderson, who left Fairleigh Dickinson after guiding that program to a historic 2023 NCAA Tournament upset as a No. 16 seed over No. 1 Purdue, has openly expressed ambitions to revive Tennessee Tech’s program and chase milestones that have eluded the school for decades. The program hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament in 63 years — one of the longest active droughts in Division I — and Anderson said he likes the challenge of changing that.

Who returns and who’s new for the Golden Eagles

Tennessee Tech brings back two contributors from last season: Ty Owens, who averaged 6.8 points per game, and Mekhi Turner, who averaged 4.1. To bolster the roster, the staff added multiple transfers who provide scoring punch: Davante Hackett from Stonehill (13.6 ppg last year), Trent Mosquera from Le Moyne (13.5), and Cbo Newton from Abilene Christian (10.1).

Those newcomers give Anderson immediate options to mix into lineups as he looks to build a team capable of competing in its new conference.

(Photograph from March 11, 2026: Mississippi State guard Josh Hubbard dribbling past Auburn’s Kevin Overton during second-half action at Bridgestone Arena. Photo credit: Steve Roberts / Imagn Images)

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Trent Mallory

Trent Mallory is a passionate sports journalist who dives deep into major competitions and the stories behind every game. From American football and the NBA to tennis and the Olympics, he delivers sharp, energetic coverage. His work brings matches, athletes, and behind-the-scenes challenges to life. For Trent, sports are more than just results — they are culture, passion, and a force for change.