STARKVILLE — Desperation slowly crept into the Mississippi State men’s basketball team’s locker room.
Following its first 0-3 start in Southeastern Conference play in five years, MSU was searching for consistency on the offensive end after failing to surpass the 40-percent shooting mark in any of the first three conference games. The Bulldogs rectified that Tuesday, shooting 54.5 percent from the field in a 72-45 rout of Missouri at Humphrey Coliseum.
“It was a really big win,” Reggie Perry said. “It was a must-win for us to get us back on track. We have a lot of confidence in ourselves based off this performance now.”
But MSU was more impressed with its defensive effort. The Bulldogs held Missouri to 34.7 percent shooting and 5 of 25 from beyond the arc in addition to forcing 19 turnovers.
“We needed this win desperately,” MSU coach Ben Howland said. “Our defense has been the best it’s been all year … I love watching good basketball. When I’m watching us play that kind of defense tonight, it just brings me a core amount of joy and pride in our guys.”
MSU was bolstered by Perry’s ninth double-double of the season, with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, Howland decided to make an adjustment to the starting lineup, removing the slumping Tyson Carter from the starting lineup for the first time all season. Redshirt freshman D.J. Stewart started in Carter’s place, while the Starkville native came off the bench. After shooting 13 of 59 from the field in his last six games, Carter ended his shooting slump by converting 6 of 12 shots and scoring 15 points. Carter also surpassed his father, Greg, on the all-time MSU scoring list, passing the elder Carter’s total of 1,123 career points. Not a bad way to spend his 22nd birthday.
“I’m really proud of Tyson. I feel like he has the monkey off his back now,” Howland said. “The basket is going to get really big again in a hurry here.”
The Bulldogs led wire-to-wire throughout the night, opening the game on a 10-0 run in the first five minutes.
“We didn’t get off to a good start,” Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin said. “We gave them too much comfort offensively.”
MSU (10-6, 1-3 SEC) made 11 of its first 14 shots to extend its lead to 24-9 with 8 minutes and 20 seconds remaining before halftime, and entered the break with a 40-20 advantage. The 20 points allowed were tied for the fewest MSU has ever allowed in a first half against an SEC opponent in the Howland era. The Bulldogs attacked the passing lanes all night and forced 13 Missouri turnovers and scored 18 points on the giveaways.
The second half wasn’t any kinder to the visiting Tigers. MSU outscored Missouri 32-25 in the second period.
Kobe Brown led Missouri (9-7, 1-3) with 14 points, the only Tiger player in double figures. MSU outrebounded the Tigers 36-24 and made all seven of its free throw attempts. Junior guard Nick Weatherspoon was the third MSU player in double figures, scoring 11 points and dishing out four assists. Weatherspoon also limited Dru Smith, Missouri’s leading scorer, to two points on a 1 of 5 shooting effort.
“If he’s not the best defensive point guard in the SEC, he’s definitely in the top two,” Howland said. “I would not want to play against him if I’m trying to handle the ball.”
MSU is back in action against Georgia at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Humphrey Coliseum.
“We told the team, we feel like we should be 2-2 in the league, but we’re 1-3,” Howland said. “It’s where we are. God has a plan for us. I really believe that.”
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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