Mississippi State Basketball: Men’s Report Card 2-1 SEC Start
The Mississippi State Basketball Men are off to a 2-1 start in the SEC. I know it is still early, but the Bulldogs are exceeding preseason expectations so far. Mississippi State Basketball had a chance to uproot the SEC pecking order during the opening conference stretch. Still, bad habits cost the Bulldogs against a Kentucky team they should have defeated.
Let’s take a look back at the Bulldogs 2-1 start in the SEC and hand out some grades.
Georgia
The Bulldogs defeated Georgia in the battle of the Bulldogs in Athens. The Bulldogs built a big lead in the first half. Georgia attempted a comeback, but it would fall short. The real Bulldogs would win 83-73.
Iverson Molinar led the way with 24 points, followed by D.J. Steward with 18. The Bulldogs were hot from behind the arc, hitting 44% of their threes. The Bulldogs continue to struggle from the line and shot 72% for the game.
Jalen Johnson continues to reward Howland for inserting him into the starting lineup with his third straight double-digit game. I feel his ability to score will be crucial to a continued improved offensive performance.
Kentucky
I was shocked that Mississippi State let the Wildcats escape the Hump with a victory. This was the year to remove Kentucky as a thorn in the Bulldogs’ side. The Wildcats entered the game with a losing record for the first time in a long time.
Mississippi State wasted a strong offensive effort from Stewart (19 pts), Molinar (17pts), and Johnson (14pts), as Kentucky won in double overtime 78-73. Free throw shooting again cost the Bulldogs a win as Mississippi State only made 69% of their attempts. Kentucky also out-hustled Mississippi State on the boards.
If The Bulldogs could have sunk a few more free throws, they would be tied for the SEC lead with Alabama at 3-0.
Missouri
The loss to Kentucky put me in a foul mood, but the win against Missouri quickly resolved that temperament. Missouri came into the game ranked #13. Missouri would leave the Hump with a 78-63 loss as the Bulldogs stormed back in the second half.
D.J. Stewart scored 24 points to lead the comeback as Mississippi State outscored Missouri 51-24 in the second half. The Bulldogs finally had a free throw performance that they can be proud of, shooting 90.5% from the line.
Iverson Molinar scored 20 points and Tolu Smith 15 to round out the scoring leaders. The Bulldogs also whipped Missouri on the board. If Mississippi State can continue playing like this, that preseason ranking will definitely be proven wrong.