Baylor Bears Set to Face Mississippi State Bulldogs in NCAA Tournament
The ninth-seeded Baylor Bears will take on the eighth-seeded Mississippi State Bulldogs in an East Regional first-round matchup of the 2025 NCAA Tournament this Friday at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. The game is scheduled to tip off at 12:15 p.m. ET.
Baylor, with a record of 19-14, recently suffered a narrow 76-74 defeat against Texas Tech in the Big 12 Conference Tournament quarterfinals. The Bears are making their 17th NCAA Tournament appearance, having previously clinched the national title in 2021. In their last season, they finished tied for seventh in the Big 12 with a record of 10-10.
Conversely, the Mississippi State Bulldogs, boasting a 21-12 record, fell to Missouri 85-73 in the SEC Tournament’s second round. This marks their 14th NCAA Tournament appearance, following a season where they ended in a tie for ninth place in the SEC with an 8-10 record.
Key players to watch include Baylor guard Langston Love, who is expected to play, and Mississippi State’s sophomore guard Josh Hubbard. Hubbard, an All-SEC second-team selection, has made waves this season, averaging 18.7 points per game and setting the program record for career points by an underclassman.
Baylor’s senior forward Norchad Omier is also a pivotal player, coming off a 29-point, 15-rebound game in his last match, while freshman guard V.J. Edgecombe has been recognized for his outstanding season.
According to odds from SportsLine Consensus, Mississippi State is favored by 1.5 points, with an over/under set at 145.5 total points. As the excitement builds for this thrilling first-round encounter, fans eagerly anticipate which team will advance in the tournament.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
