STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Ben Howland took a deep breath.
He had just been asked how he thought his team finished a game where it had an 11-point lead with less than two minutes remaining.
“Not good,” Howland said, highlighting the Bulldogs’ three turnovers in that stretch.
Nevertheless, the Bulldogs survived a furious comeback attempt from South Alabama and won a charity exhibition contest 78-75 at the Humphrey Coliseum Sunday.
It’s a win, even if it doesn’t count.
Sunday could be viewed as a mixed bag for the Bulldogs. MSU showcased a few intriguing young players for the first time, but also displayed lapses in ball control with an erratic 19 turnovers. In addition to using the event as a way to raise money for those affected by the flood waters in the South Delta, Howland wanted his team to face a Division I South Alabama squad that featured five players that averaged at least 13 points per game a year ago.
“It was a difficult opponent, which is exactly what we were searching for,” Howand said. “Looking at their team, they’re very well-coached and very experienced … We have a young team that’s learning, and they’re going to need to learn time and score.”
Fans in attendance might have watched the future Sun Belt Player of the Year in South Alabama’s Andre Fox. Fox wore out Mississippi State with a game-high 30 points, making 9 of 17 shots.
“Give that kid credit. He made a lot of tough shots,” Howland said. “But we need to get a lot better defensively.”
Fox jump started the late South Alabama rally with seven points in six seconds, converting a four-point play, then knocking down a 3-pointer after a steal to bring the Jaguars within two points with 1:37 remaining.
Starting at point guard in place of Nick Weatherspoon, Tyson Carter had a team-high 19 points and five assists, but also committed seven turnovers. The biggest of which came after Carter traveled with his team up one point with 39 seconds remaining.
“My performance could have been way better. I turned the ball over too much tonight,” Carter said. “It’s an adjustment, I’ll get better at it.”
Mississippi State had Carter’s back by delivering its best defensive possession of the night, swarming to the ball as it was passed around the court and not allowing the Jaguars many open looks.
“I wish I would have had one more timeout,” South Alabama coach Richie Riley said.
Fox touched the ball twice in that sequence, but couldn’t get a look he liked, forcing the ball to teammate Trhae Mitchell with two seconds left on the shot clock.
“We were scrambling and moving. That was a phenomenal possession,” Howland said. “They were incredibly patient. They were just trying to get someone open. I think (Mitchell) passed up a good look. So, I’m not sure what their game plan was.”
Forced into less than ideal circumstances, Mitchell put up an off-balance mid-range shot that clanked off the rim.
“We really wanted to space and use a ball screen to get them to scramble,” Riley said. “Fox had a decent look at it, I wish he would have just shot it. But his feet weren’t set. Then we had Mitchell take a mid-range shot. It’s a shot that he makes, but I wish we got a little better look at it.”
After Carter made two free throws, South Alabama had another shot, but Fox was fouled with two seconds left and missed both free throws. Mitchell missed a game-tying 3-pointer as time expired after South Alabama got the rebound on Fox’s second missed free throw.
Howland and MSU players had been raving about freshman Iverson Molinar throughout the preseason, and Sunday served as his coming out party.
The 6-foot-3 guard finished with 15 points on a 6 of 12 shooting performance in 30 minutes and also notched five steals. Considering Weatherspoon will miss the team’s first 10 games due to suspension, Molinar is expected to play a big role in MSU’s nonconference slate.
“It does feel good,” Molinar said of his performance. “My first college game playing with those experienced guys, it was good going out there and doing my best.”
In his first action since losing nearly 30 pounds in the offseason, junior forward Keyshawn Feazell was a big presence in the post, contributing 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. The New Hebron native said he noticed a big difference in his agility on the court.
“In his previous two years, he didn’t get a lot of experience, but he did get some,” Howland said. “He’s playing very confident right now. He’s doing a little bit of everything: blocking shots, diving on the floor for balls and has more stamina … He’s really worked for it. He’s really earned everything that he’s getting now and is going to get.”
Sophomore forward Reggie Perry scored 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out four assists in 26 minutes, while Robert Woodard II chipped in eight points and eight rebounds.
MSU outrebounded South Alabama 41-29 and outshot the Jaguars 51.9 percent to 41.5 percent. The Bulldogs were 5-for-13 from beyond the arc, while the Jaguars shot 6-of-18 from long range.
“Their length really affected us,” Riley said. “Our team doesn’t see that length every day in practice.”
MSU opens the regular season against Florida International on Nov. 5 at the Humphrey Coliseum.
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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