It’s difficult to call a game a must win in January, but after three defeats to start SEC play, Mississippi State was as close to desperate as a team can be. The Bulldogs left no doubt on Tuesday night at the Humphrey Coliseum, running out to a 10-0 lead to start the game and cruising to a 72-45 win over Missouri. State hit 55% from the field, outrebounded the Tigers by 12, and forced 19 turnovers as the Bulldogs ran all over a Missouri squad that had scored 91 points in their last outing against Florida. State improves to 10-6 overall, and goes to 1-3 in conference play.
A DOUBLE DOUBLE MACHINE
Perry goes high off the glass. He's got 16.
STATE 46
MIZZOU 29#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/fKr611yC6g
— Mississippi State Men's Basketball (@HailStateMBK) January 15, 2020
That headline is how Coach Ben Howland described Reggie Perry, as the Bulldog sophomore went for 23 points and 10 rebounds, his ninth double-double of the season and his third in SEC play. Even before the season began, Howland was adamant Perry would average double digit points and rebounds on the season, and thus far, State’s All-SEC star has delivered on that hype. Perry was especially dominant Tuesday night, hitting 9-13 shots, including two from behind the arc.
WELCOME BACK CARTER
The only father-son duo in SEC history to each score 1,000+ points:@HailStateMBK's Greg and Tyson Carter 🔥 pic.twitter.com/9n3f71dXkV
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) January 15, 2020
It was quite the night for Tyson Carter, as Tuesday was his birthday, and his first bucket pushed him ahead of his father, Greg Carter, on the all time scoring list at Mississippi State. Most importantly for the senior, he was able to get out of the funk he was suffering through State’s first three SEC games. Carter had 15 points and 7 assists against only 1 turnover, coming off the bench for the first time this season as Howland look to shake things up to get his sharpshooting guard back into the swing of things. Carter is obviously essential for Mississippi State this season, if he can return to his early season form, the Bulldogs might fight their way back into postseason contention yet.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Tomorrow, Vols vs. Dawgs | 7 PM | ESPN U #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/5f18CWl7PJ
— Georgia Basketball (@UGABasketball) January 15, 2020
Georgia has one game between now and Saturday’s trip to Starkville. The other Bulldogs are led by a tremendous core of freshmen, most notably Anthony Edwards, who many predict will be the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Tipoff is set for 7:30 PM at the Humphrey Coliseum as the maroon and white Dawgs will look to make it two wins in a row.
Photo courtesy of Mississippi State athletics
