NASHVILLE, Tenn. - In a stunning upset, ninth-seeded Mississippi State Bulldogs dominated the fifth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers with a final score of 73-56 in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Tournament.

Cameron Matthews and Josh Hubbard were the stars of the game, both scoring 18 points and leading the Bulldogs to a resounding victory. This win not only propels Mississippi State (21-12) confidently off the NCAA Tournament bubble but also marks their second triumph over the No. 1 seeded Tennessee this season.

The Bulldogs will now advance to the semifinals, where they will face the winner of the South Carolina vs. Auburn matchup on Saturday. This will be their first semifinal appearance since winning the SEC Tournament in 2009.

Mississippi State, amidst a four-game regular-season skid, took control of the game from the start, never allowing the SEC's top seed to take the lead. Tennessee managed only one tie at 2-2 but struggled to catch up with the Bulldogs' relentless performance. Additionally, Mississippi State effectively contained Dalton Knecht, the AP SEC Player of the Year, limiting him to 14 points despite his average of 25.5 points in league play.

The loss is a significant blow to Tennessee's hopes of securing their first No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament in program history. It marks their second consecutive loss and a disappointing exit from the quarterfinals, as they were the reigning champions of this tournament from 2022.

The Volunteers received strong support from their fans, donning the team's signature orange. However, their shooting performance fell short, while Mississippi State seemed unstoppable. The Bulldogs displayed incredible accuracy, shooting an impressive 62.5% from the field. They established a commanding 38-19 lead at halftime and continued to dominate throughout the game.

Midway through the second half, the Bulldogs reached their largest lead of 23 points. Although Tennessee rallied with ten unanswered points to close the gap to 60-48, D.J. Jeffries of Mississippi State extinguished any hopes of a comeback by hitting a pivotal three-pointer and a layup.

Mississippi State's victory solidifies their position as one of the 16 teams in the league with at least two victories over top 10 teams during regular season play. This triumph adds to their previous win against Tennessee in January.

As for Tennessee, they had relied on Knecht's impressive performances in the regular season to overcome slow starts. However, in this game, Knecht struggled in the second half, converting only 2 of his 9 attempts. With this loss, the Vols' overall record against the Bulldogs with head coach Rick Barnes stands at 10-4.

Looking ahead, Mississippi State hopes to build on their success in the SEC Tournament but realizes the challenges that lie ahead. The Bulldogs were defeated twice by South Carolina, including a close 93-89 overtime game in the regular season finale. They split their series with Auburn, each team claiming victories on their home floor.

The SEC Tournament continues to heat up as Mississippi State secured their place in the semifinals, leaving Tennessee to regroup and reflect on their disappointing exit. Basketball enthusiasts can stay updated on AP Top 25 basketball rankings and receive poll alerts throughout the season.