STARKVILLE — Coming into Wednesday’s home game against LSU, Mississippi State forward D.J. Jeffries knew how close he was to reaching a major milestone.
Score just 13 points against the Tigers, and Jeffries would reach 1,000 for his career.
“I kept telling myself, ‘I’ve got to at least get 13,’” Jeffries said. “I didn’t know I’d get 18.”
Jeffries picked a good time to find his 3-point stroke, making five of six 3-point attempts and scoring a season-high 18 points in a 64-53 win over LSU (12-12, 1-10 Southeastern Conference) at Humphrey Coliseum as the Bulldogs (16-8, 4-7 SEC) won their fourth straight game.
“I just shot with confidence, and the results were good tonight, so I’m just keeping the same mentality going forward — just keep shooting with no hesitation,” Jeffries said.
The Mississippi State forward hadn’t had much luck from beyond the arc in his prior five games. He was just 1 of 6 from deep against Missouri on Saturday and Alabama on Jan. 25. Against TCU on Jan. 28, Jeffries was 0 of 7 from behind the 3-point line. His 3-point percentage coming into Wednesday night was just 24.8 percent.
But he found a way to contribute from deep on a night Mississippi State decidedly needed him.
“Really happy for him to reap the dividends of it and take the lid off the basket, and we needed it, because without him, we were 1 for 10,” MSU coach Chris Jans said. “We were 1 for 10 from 3.”
Largely thanks to Jeffries, the Bulldogs made their most triples since the win over the Horned Frogs.
“We made six 3s. We’re the Warriors,” Jans joked.
Guard Shakeel Moore added 13 points for the Bulldogs, and forward/center Tolu Smith had 10.
MSU’s defense was Jeffries’ co-star Wednesday, cracking down on a scuffling Tigers team that lost its 11th consecutive game. The Bulldogs forced 15 turnovers and held LSU to 42.6 percent shooting from the field.
Mississippi State used a 9-0 run before halftime to respond to an LSU run that saw the Tigers lead by as many as six points. LSU was stuck on 22 points on the scoreboard from the 7:20 mark of the first half to the 18:19 timestamp of the second.
The Bulldogs’ offense wasn’t exactly humming during that stretch, but MSU parlayed its defensive intensity into a three-point halftime lead.
“You can keep holding it down on that side, and you’ll be fine,” guard Shawn Jones Jr. said. “Just stick together, and we’ll get the job done.”
Jones was a big part of that as Mississippi State pushed its lead to double digits for good with 5:14 to play on an impressive offensive rebound and putback layup by the freshman.
Jones’ six-point night included that big bucket and a circus shot for a three-point play opportunity just before the half.
“He makes those plays where you go, ‘Wow. Ooh, that was a heck of a finish,’” Jans said. “He’s just so lanky and long, and he just moves so well out there.”
Jones’ score before the break helped Mississippi State right the ship after an LSU run countered an early punch. MSU jumped out to a 10-0 lead in barely two minutes, but LSU scored 20 of the game’s next 24 points, hitting four 3-pointers along the way.
The Bulldogs outscored the Tigers 50-33 for the rest of the game, leading by as many as 15 points.
MSU hasn’t lost since a 66-63 defeat to the Crimson Tide — who are now 11-0 in SEC play — in Tuscaloosa.
“I’m proud of their ability to stick together and handle some adversity and some games that didn’t go the way we wanted them to,” Jans said. “They’re getting paid for continuing to work and continuing to believe in each other and believe in what we’re trying to sell them each and every game plan.”
MSU will take on Arkansas (17-7, 6-5 SEC) at 5 p.m. Saturday at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 24 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 24 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
