Mississippi State Basketball: Men’s Hoops vs. Iowa State Preview
Mississippi State (9-8, 4-5 SEC) enters Saturday’s SEC/Big 12 contest with Iowa State (2-8, 0-6 Big 12) in dire need of a win. The Bulldogs and Cyclones will tip off at 5 PM in Starkville, and the game will be televised on ESPN2.
Mississippi State will look to avenge last year’s SEC/Big 12 Challenge 63-62 loss at Oklahoma.
Scouting Iowa State
Iowa State has struggled mightily this season, having won only two games out of their first 10. Five of the Cyclones’ ten opponents have been ranked in the top-25. Iowa State’s two wins have come against SWAC schools Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Jackson State.
COVID has decimated the Cyclones’ roster this season. Only eight players, including two walk-ons, were available in their 21-point loss to Oklahoma State.
Junior guard Rasir Bolton leads the Cyclones with 15.2 points per game. Bolton also leads in assists with 4.6 and steals with 1.9. DePaul transfer Jalen Coleman-Lands averages just under 13 points a game and is Iowa State’s most consistent three-point shooter.
Javon Johnson is averaging 12.2 points per game. Forward Solomon Young is contributing 12 points and a team-leading 5.2 rebounds a game for the Cyclones. Memphis transfer Tyler Harris is scoring 7.1 points per game and shooting 32% from three in his first season in Ames
Iowa State struggles offensively, scoring only 67.6 points per game. The Cyclones shoot 45.4% from the field and 32.9% from three.
Keys to a Bulldog Win
Mississippi State will need to take care of the ball to beat Iowa State. The Bulldogs had 18 turnovers in the loss to Tennessee, and they will need to clean that up to get a win on Saturday.
The Bulldogs will also need to make free throws. MSU missed several key free throws late against Tennessee, and that proved to be the difference. If State gets to the line and converts, they should win on Saturday.
Prediction
Mississippi State rides the backcourt of Iverson Molinar and DJ Stewart to an 8-point win over Iowa State. Tolu Smith takes advantage of the size difference down low and finishes with a double-double.