STARKVILLE — Gavin Ware is on a mission.
The senior center wanted to be an integral part of the Mississippi State men’s basketball team’s success this season, but he knew he needed to improve in every aspect. When Ben Howland replaced Rick Ray as MSU’s coach in March, Ware’s maturation was one of his top priorities.
Through six games, the work is paying off.
The former Starkville High School standout had 22 points and 10 rebounds Saturday for his second double-double of the season to help MSU defeat Tennessee-Martin 76-51 before a crowd of 7,150 at Humphrey Coliseum.
“I’ve been more mature about the way I go about playing,” said Ware, who has 15 double-doubles in his career. “I’m just trying to be a guy my team can lean on down the stretch.”
Ware’s weight always has been an issue, but he committed to staying in shape in the offseason and worked hard with new strength and conditioning coach David Deets to make sure he was in game shape before the season started.
“I think he’s really made a commitment to his body and eating right,” Howland said. “He’s playing more minutes and being able to play harder. He’s giving us good, quality minutes. He’s able to play harder and play longer because he’s in better condition.”
Ware said it is a daily process working with Deets to keep his body in shape for the long haul of the Southeastern Conference.
Ware is averaging 20.2 per game. He averaged 10 points as a junior and a sophomore and 8.4 points as a freshman in 2012-13.
Howland said Ware made 25 of 26 shots in the last three practices. Howland joked that they were disappointed Ware missed three shots (9 of 12) from the field against the Skyhawks. Ware also was 4 of 5 from the free-throws line. He also had two assists, three blocked shots, and one steal in 30 minutes.
“He’s gotten a whole lot stronger since I got here,” MSU senior forward Travis Daniels said. “He took care of his body and he just gave himself up for the team.”
With the 10 rebounds, Ware moved past Charles Rhodes for the 12th most in school history with 695.
Ware helped the Bulldogs (3-3) pull away in the second half. MSU, which led 36-29 at halftime, saw its lead shrink to 38-35 with 15 minutes, 56 seconds remaining. But Ware had eight points in an 18-0 run — that lasted 8:15 — that pushed the lead to 56-35 with less than eight minutes remaining. The Bulldogs outscored the Skyhawks 40-22 in the second half.
Freshman guard Quinndary Weatherspoon had a career-high 16 points. He was 6 of 6 from the field, 2 of 2 from behind the 3-point line, and 2 of 2 from the free-throw line.
“I just do what coach Howland tells me and play within the offense, and (Saturday), my shot was just falling,” said Weatherspoon, who added three rebounds, an assist, two steals, and took a charge for the second-straight game. He said he never took one during his four years playing high school basketball at Velma Jackson. Junior point guard I.J. Ready also had 10 points.
Myles Taylor and Richard Lee had 11 points for the Skyhawks (2-5). Pearl native Twymond Howard had 10. Former Starkville High School and East Mississippi Community College standout Jacobly Mobley failed to score and was 0 of 7 from the field.
Ware and MSU will play host to Texas Southern at 7 p.m. Wednesday (SEC Network).
“This is my last year, so if I haven’t had pressure in my freshman and sophomore year, this is not the time to have it,” Ware said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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