STARKVILLE — When Mississippi State took a 40-28 lead over Southern Miss into halftime, there wasn’t a sense of discomfort. The Golden Eagles are a talented team with players who can punish complacency, but the tension wasn’t there at Humphrey Coliseum on Sunday afternoon.

At least not in the stands. In the locker room, though, there was a push for more focus and intensity. Those have been points of emphasis for head coach Sam Purcell in recent weeks, but this time it came from the players.

“At halftime, Trayanna (Crisp), she’s been a really good leader and making sure that we refocus on every quarter, because it’s important,” Chandler Prater said. “Once we get to SEC play, there’s no plays off. First through fourth quarter, we have to be locked in. It was definitely a point at halftime.”

“A lot of maturity,” Purcell responded when asked about the halftime show of force from his players. “We’re on an airplane in the air and we’re building it as we go. For Chandler and some of the vets, to understand the urgency, shoutout to Coach Castro. He watched last year’s game, and we were up 10 on ULM, but we never put them away. So Chandler referenced what he was sending home all week in preparations, it was: ‘Here we go again.’ You’ve got a chance, you’re up. Are we going to step on their neck or allow them to come back?”

The Bulldogs came out in the third quarter on a 13-0 scoring run in what would eventually become a 28-14 frame.

The upperclass trio of Prater, 18 points, Destiny McPhaul, 14, and Crisp, 12, all played a big part in the team’s sharp ball movement. They combined for 11 of the team’s 15 assists and also contributed four steals.

They were joined in double-digit points by Favour Nwaedozi, who recorded a personal best 21 points and 23 rebounds for a double-double performance to remember.

Eight of the 10 Bulldogs who played got on the scoresheet, and though they once again saw guard Saniyah King limp off with an injury, there wasn’t much else to be down about.

“Being in a team that has lots of transfers, that haven’t played together very much, I think we’re doing really well,” Nwaedozi said. “We’re getting to know each other, our strengths and what we like to do, and we practice on that. We work on that together and I feel like it’s showing in the games. Every game, we keep getting better, working with each other.”

Prater, who hit double digits for the second game in a row, has continued to improve as both a leader and a scorer, crediting the positive atmosphere in the team.

“I feel a lot more comfortable,” Prater said. “My mindset hasn’t really changed, but I’m just thankful that I’ve been blessed with a healthy body and mind.”

After suffering a season-ending injury two years ago, Prater had to battle her way back to play at a high level again last year with MSU. She was a transfer then, still finding her way, but now is considered a “team mom” by her fellow Bulldogs.

“It definitely does help having such great teammates around me, to always pick me up no matter how many mistakes I make or what it seems like,” she added. “I have that real mindset too, I’m just trying to get better continuously, and I feel like this is the place. I’m in a good spot right now.”

The 10-1 start in nonconference play isn’t unique under Purcell. The team was 13-1 entering SEC play last year before going 7-9 through the conference slate, but there is a distinctly different air about the team this time around.

“It keeps going back to that growth mindset,” Prater said. “(Purcell) has one too. He’s gotten better in the offseason, he’s gotten more intense since last year. I think he’s on a mission for his own personal coaching career to leave a great legacy here, and it’s apparent that he has that tone about him. He has an energy about him. It was there last year, but now it’s just to a new level, it’s more direct. I like it.”

The Bulldogs have three more games before they have to carry that intensity into SEC play, and Purcell again took time to thank the fans for their effort to help them with that. The lower bowl wasn’t quite full with students heading home for the holidays, but the season ticket crowd showed up with teddy bears for charity and support for their basketball team.

“Because of your energy, your love and you showed up, you got a group of young women who’ve been off for a week in finals, and I thought they came out and played hard for you as fans,” Purcell said. “Very excited about a big win against a Southern Miss team that I think will have a chance to win their conference.”