Video: Mississippi State Above .500 After 86-73 Win vs. Texas Southern

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI/MSU Athletics) – Mississippi State shot 52.2 percent from the floor and committed a season-low seven turnovers to post an 86-73 victory against Texas Southern Wednesday at Humphrey Coliseum.

Gavin Ware posted his third double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Travis Daniels added 18 points, while Craig Sword had 16 points and reigning Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week Quinndary Weatherspoon added 11 points.

(Kelly Price/MSU Athletics)
Senior Gavin Ware notched his fourth straight double-double with a 19 point, 11 rebound night.

“Our team offensively was really good tonight,” MSU coach Ben Howland said. “Our first half was the best half we have had this season. We were 7 of 14 from 3-point range. We just did a great job of sharing the basketball. We have to do a better job of staying in front of the basketball.”

The Bulldogs (4-3) shot better than 50 percent for the third time this season. MSU also hit nine 3-point baskets, the second most in a game this season. The 17 assists were also the second most in a game.

Down 19-14, the Bulldogs surged ahead with a 10-3 run. A jumper by I.J. Ready capped the run and placed the Bulldogs on top, 24-21 with 8:20 left in the half.

A 3-pointer by Daniels and putback by Ware capped a 5-0 run to push the Bulldogs ahead 35-29 with 3:25 left in the half.

The Bulldogs shot 54.3 percent from the field in the first half to take a 45-37 lead at halftime.

In the second half, the Bulldogs held the Tigers to 43.3 percent shooting (compared to 48.4 percent in the first half). They also had a season-high 10 blocked shots, including four by Sword and three by Ware.

A 9-2 run to start the second half pushed the MSU advantage to 54-39 with 15:53 left in the contest.

Still Texas Southern (1-6) kept battling. The Tigers used a 14-6 run to pull within 69-65 with 6:43 left.

Back-to-back baskets by Ready stopped the run. Sword also had a critical steal and pair of blocks when the game was hanging in the balance.

“It was great how we showed toughness to hold on and get the win,” Howland said, “(Sword) really did a great job defensively in the second half. We really need that on that end of the floor. We have made a ton of improvement defensively since the Miami game, but we have a long way to go.”

For the contest, the Bulldogs hit 35 of 67 shots from the field (52.2 percent), 9 of 27 shots from 3-point range (33.3 percent) and 7 of 7 shots from the foul line (100.0 percent). The Tigers hit 28 of 61 shots from the field (45.9 percent), 6 of 17 shots from 3-point range (35.3 percent) and 11 of 21 shots from the foul line (52.4 percent).

Texas Southern held a 41-29 rebounding advantage. The Bulldogs had 17 assists and seven turnovers, while the Tigers had 15 assists and 14 turnovers.

Texas Southern received 19 points from Derrick Griffin, 15 points from Chris Thomas, 15 points from Malcolm Riley and 10 points from Jerron Martin.

MSU will take some time off for final examinations before playing at Missouri-Kansas City on Saturday, Dec. 12. That contest will start at 4:05 p.m. and be shown nationally on the American Sports Network.

The Bulldogs’ next home game is Saturday, Dec. 19 against Tulane.