For 36:07 in Friday night’s game with Sam Houston State, Mississippi State looked sluggish, discombobulated, and weary, as they trailed the BearKats by as many as 18 points, and were down 58-50 just under the four minute mark. From that moment on, the Bulldogs would go on an incredible 17-0 run to get a hard fought 67-58 win at the Humphrey Coliseum. Tyson Carter once again led the Bulldogs with 28 points, and Reggie Perry notched his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 14 rebounds. State had to overcome its own mistakes, turning the ball over 23 times, including 16 in the first half, a period that saw SHSU lead by as many as 17 before a late push sent the teams into the locker room with MSU down 7. The Bulldogs move to 2-0 on the season, and will take on UL-Monrore Thursday night here in Starkville.
CARTER CONTINUES TO BE CLUTCH
TYSON CARTER FOR THREEEE!
STATE: 58
SHSU: 582H | 1:37 remaining#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/jGV8Uw5mbp
— Mississippi State MBK (@HailStateMBK) November 9, 2019
Where would Mississippi State have been tonight without Tyson Carter? The senior guard had 19 of State’s 27 first half points, then moved into more of a facilitator role in the second half, doling 5 of his 6 assists while still hitting the three pointer that tied the game at 58. Carter’s role was going to be bigger these first 10 games as the Bulldogs await the return of Nick Weatherspoon from suspension, but he’s giving the maroon and white more than even he expected.
THE QUIET MAN AGAIN
FINAL – Mississippi State 67, Sam Houston State 58
Dogs close the game on a 17-0 run
Tyson Carter with 28 points
Reggie Perry double-double (10 pts and 14 boards)
DJ Stewart with 15
Robert Woodard with 10
Dogs overcome an 18-point second-half deficit
— Joel Coleman (@JoelTColeman) November 9, 2019
Make it two games in a row where if you just looked at the stat sheet, you’d think Reggie Perry had a solid game, but for the second time in as may times out this season, Perry got off to a very slow start, only to come up big in the game’s closing moments. Perry really put together a good stretch as the Bulldogs went on that game-ending run, grabbing some offensive boards and tipping in some missed shots as the Bulldogs cut into the SHSU lead. Eventually, State will need Perry to be in All-SEC form from the tipoff on, but for now, he’s doing enough in the second half to get his team over the line.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Warhawk Basketball is BACK! See you at Fant-Ewing in the AM! #DefendTheNest #TheBestIsOnTheBayou pic.twitter.com/bdrbfEsreX
— ULM Men's Basketball (@ULM_MBB) November 8, 2019
Mississippi State welcomes Louisiana-Monroe to Starkville on Thursday night, tipoff set for 6:00 PM. The Bulldogs will look to extend their 24 game non-conference home winning streak against the Warhawks.
Here’s video from Ben Howland’s post game press conference, as he discusses how his team’s mental toughness played a big role in how the Bulldogs were able to overcome two double digit deficits.
MSU Hoops: MSU 67 Sam Houston State 58 https://t.co/oDq3lomCQS
— SportsTalk Mississippi (@SportsTalkMiss) November 9, 2019
Photo courtesy of Mississippi State athletics
