Video: Carter’s Spark Off The Bench Lifts Bulldogs Past LSU In SEC Tournament

March 8, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WCBI / MSU Athletics) – Freshmen Lamar Peters and Tyson Carter were ready to play in their first Southeastern Conference Tournament for Mississippi State.

The duo combined for 28 points as No. 12-seed MSU rolled over No. 13-seed LSU, 79-52, in the opening game of the tournament played Wednesday night at Bridgestone Arena.

MSU (16-15) will face No. 5 seed Alabama in the second game of Thursday’s second round. That contest will start 30 minutes after the Noon game between Georgia and Tennessee on the SEC Network.

“We played good defense,” MSU coach Ben Howland said. “We lost a ton of close games throughout the season. This team has shown a lot of fight. Fight is what you have to have to advance in this kind of tournament.”

Weatherspoon led the Bulldogs with 19 points, while Carter added 18 points. Xavian Stapleton added 13 points, while Peters had 10 points.

The Bulldogs struggled offensively early and fell down 8-2. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Tyson Carter tied the contest 8-8. A 3-pointer by Peters gave the Bulldogs a 13-11 lead. The teams were then tied five more times before LSU held its last lead at 25-24.

A dunk by Quinndary Weatherspoon sparked a half-ending 13-0 run. Carter finished with 13 first-half points and the Bulldogs led 37-25 at halftime.

LSU was held to no points over the final 5:25 of the first half.

In the second half, the Tigers fought back within four points twice. A 3-pointer by Peters stopped LSU’s final threat. That trey pushed the lead to 44-37 with 15:59 left.

The Bulldogs then put the contest away with a 19-1 run. LSU was held without a field goal over the final 11:33 of the game.

For the contest, MSU hit 28 of 59 shots from the field (47.5 percent), 11 of 30 shots from 3-point range (36.7 percent) and 12 of 13 shots from the foul line (92.3 percent). LSU hit 18 of 54 shots from the field (33.3 percent), 1 of 22 shots from 3-point range (4.5 percent) and 15 of 18 shots from the foul line (83.8 percent).

LSU (10-21) received 13 points from Skylar Mays and 11 points from Antonio Blakeney.

Mississippi State clinches a .500 win or better season for the first time in five seasons.