Mississippi State Edges Auburn in Thrilling Finish
Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 9:00 PM ET · Humphrey Coliseum
Mississippi State Bulldogs 91, Auburn Tigers 85, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Auburn Tigers vs Mississippi State Bulldogs?
Mississippi State Bulldogs beat Auburn Tigers 91-85 at Humphrey Coliseum on February 18, 2026.
Who was favored in Auburn Tigers vs Mississippi State Bulldogs?
Auburn Tigers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -238 (about 70% implied). The underdog won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Mississippi State Bulldogs triumphed over the Auburn Tigers with a final score of 91-85 at Humphrey Coliseum. This victory marked a significant turnaround for the Bulldogs, who had struggled in recent outings but managed to secure a win against a formidable opponent.
Mississippi State entered the game with a home record of 13-13 and had been on a challenging path, winning only 2 of their last 10 games, with an overall record of 2-8 in that stretch. Their recent form included a narrow win against Ole Miss Rebels, where they scored 90 points, but they had also faced tough losses, including a 64-73 defeat to the Tennessee Volunteers just days prior. Despite the ups and downs, the Bulldogs averaged 72.2 points scored and 82.2 points allowed in their last 10 games, indicating a need for improvement on the defensive end.
On the other hand, the Auburn Tigers came into the game with a slightly better record of 14-12. However, they had been struggling recently as well, losing their last four games and posting a 5-5 record over their last 10. Their scoring average during this period was 79.4 points, with an average of 78.4 points allowed. The Tigers' last game ended in an 75-88 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks, further highlighting their recent difficulties.
The Bulldogs had a home record of 0-5 in their last five games, while the Tigers had a mixed away record of 2-3. This game was crucial for both teams as they sought to find some momentum heading into the latter part of the season.
Historically, the Bulldogs had faced the Tigers once earlier in the season, suffering a loss with a score of 66-88 on January 15, 2025. This prior meeting added an extra layer of significance to the matchup, as Mississippi State aimed to avenge that defeat.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details, but the context of the season suggests that both teams were likely managing player health as they approached the final stretch of the schedule. The absence of key players can often impact team performance, especially in high-stakes games like this one.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had set the odds with Auburn favored by 5.5 points, indicating that they were expected to win based on their overall performance this season. The total points line was set at 155.5, reflecting expectations for a high-scoring affair given both teams' recent scoring averages.
As the game unfolded, fans witnessed a thrilling contest characterized by back-and-forth scoring. The Bulldogs managed to pull ahead in the closing moments, with key plays from players like Josh Hubbard and Ja'Borri McGhee, who made crucial free throws to secure the win. The final scoring plays saw Hubbard hit a pivotal three-pointer, followed by McGhee making several free throws that ultimately sealed the victory for Mississippi State.
The conditions in Humphrey Coliseum were likely electric, with fans rallying behind their home team, creating an atmosphere that can often lift players' performances. As the Bulldogs celebrated their hard-fought victory, the focus now shifts to how both teams will regroup and prepare for their upcoming challenges in the NCAAB season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | AUB -5.5 | 155.5 o -108 / u -112 | Auburn Tigers -238 · Mississippi State Bulldogs +195 |
Leaders
- PointsJosh Hubbard46Mississippi State Bulldogs
- AssistsShawn Jones Jr.5Mississippi State Bulldogs
- ReboundsJosh Hubbard9Mississippi State Bulldogs
- PointsKeyshawn Hall29Auburn Tigers
- AssistsTahaad Pettiford4Auburn Tigers
- ReboundsKeShawn Murphy11Auburn Tigers
Recent form
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Last 10: 2-8Streak W172.2 scored · 82.2 allowed per game0-5 at home
- W90-78at Ole Miss RebelsFeb 14
- L64-73vs Tennessee VolunteersFeb 12
- L68-88vs Arkansas RazorbacksFeb 7
- L79-84at Missouri TigersJan 31
- W80-66at LSU TigersJan 29
- L56-88vs Vanderbilt CommodoresJan 24
- L68-88at Texas A&M AggiesJan 22
- L67-68vs Ole Miss RebelsJan 18
- L82-97vs Alabama Crimson TideJan 14
- L68-92at Kentucky WildcatsJan 11
Auburn Tigers
Last 10: 5-5Streak L479.4 scored · 78.4 allowed per game2-3 away
- L75-88at Arkansas RazorbacksFeb 15
- L76-84vs Vanderbilt CommodoresFeb 11
- L92-96vs Alabama Crimson TideFeb 7
- L69-77at Tennessee VolunteersFeb 1
- W88-82vs Texas LonghornsJan 29
- W76-67at Florida GatorsJan 24
- W78-66at Ole Miss RebelsJan 21
- W71-67vs South Carolina GamecocksJan 17
- L74-84at Missouri TigersJan 15
- W95-73vs Arkansas RazorbacksJan 10
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 27-8 | - | 16-2 |
| Arkansas | 28-9 | 3 | 13-5 |
| Alabama | 25-10 | 3 | 13-5 |
| Vanderbilt | 27-9 | 5 | 11-7 |
| Tennessee | 25-12 | 5 | 11-7 |
| Texas A&M | 22-12 | 5 | 11-7 |
| Georgia | 22-11 | 6 | 10-8 |
| Kentucky | 22-14 | 6 | 10-8 |
| Missouri | 20-13 | 6 | 10-8 |
| Texas | 21-15 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Auburn | 22-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Oklahoma | 21-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Mississippi State | 13-19 | 11 | 5-13 |
| Ole Miss | 15-20 | 12 | 4-14 |
| South Carolina | 13-19 | 12 | 4-14 |
| LSU | 15-17 | 13 | 3-15 |
Box score
| Stat | Auburn Tigers | Mississippi State Bulldogs |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 24-62 | 31-62 |
| Field goal % | 39 | 50 |
| Three-pointers | 12-26 | 16-30 |
| Three-point % | 46 | 53 |
| Free throws | 25-31 | 13-17 |
| Free throw % | 81 | 76 |
| Rebounds | 41 | 34 |
| Offensive rebounds | 17 | 9 |
| Defensive rebounds | 24 | 25 |
| Assists | 12 | 17 |
| Steals | 6 | 6 |
| Blocks | 3 | 11 |
| Turnovers | 8 | 6 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 8 | 4 |
| Fast-break points | 16 | 17 |
| Points in the paint | 24 | 26 |
| Fouls | 15 | 23 |
| Largest lead | 7 | 18 |
| Lead changes | 8 | 8 |
| Time in front | 12 | 82 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half54-59Jayden Epps makes 28-foot three point jumper (Shawn Jones Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half57-59Kevin Overton makes 23-foot three point jumper (Sebastian Williams-Adams assists)
- 2nd Half57-60Josh Hubbard makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half57-61Josh Hubbard makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half59-61Tahaad Pettiford makes 9-foot jumper
- 2nd Half60-61Tahaad Pettiford makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half60-63Jayden Epps makes 15-foot jumper
- 2nd Half61-63Tahaad Pettiford makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-63Tahaad Pettiford makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-63KeShawn Murphy makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half64-64Josh Hubbard makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-65Josh Hubbard makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-65Elyjah Freeman makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-65Elyjah Freeman makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-67Quincy Ballard makes layup (Shawn Jones Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half69-67Elyjah Freeman makes 23-foot three point jumper (Keyshawn Hall assists)
- 2nd Half69-69Achor Achor makes 12-foot jumper (Josh Hubbard assists)
- 2nd Half69-70Josh Hubbard makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-71Josh Hubbard makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-71Keyshawn Hall makes 8-foot jumper
- 2nd Half71-73Quincy Ballard makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half73-73Sebastian Williams-Adams makes 4-foot jumper
- 2nd Half74-73KeShawn Murphy makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half77-73Tahaad Pettiford makes 24-foot three point jumper (KeShawn Murphy assists)
- 2nd Half80-73Kevin Overton makes 24-foot three point jumper (Tahaad Pettiford assists)
- 2nd Half80-75Jayden Epps makes layup
- 2nd Half80-77Achor Achor makes 2-foot dunk (Ja'Borri McGhee assists)
- 2nd Half81-77Sebastian Williams-Adams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half82-77Sebastian Williams-Adams makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half82-80Jayden Epps makes 26-foot three point jumper (Ja'Borri McGhee assists)
- 2nd Half82-82Josh Hubbard makes layup
- 2nd Half83-82Keyshawn Hall makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half83-85Josh Hubbard makes 22-foot three point jumper (Ja'Borri McGhee assists)
- 2nd Half83-86Ja'Borri McGhee makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half83-87Ja'Borri McGhee makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half83-88Shawn Jones Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half83-89Shawn Jones Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half85-89Tahaad Pettiford makes layup
- 2nd Half85-90Ja'Borri McGhee makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half85-91Ja'Borri McGhee makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Mississippi State Bulldogs, below favours Auburn Tigers.
Venue
- Humphrey ColiseumStarkville, MS
- Attendance7789
- OfficialsSteven Anderson, Bart Lenox, Owen Shortt
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond