Field Level Media
Feb 8, 2023
D.J. Jeffries scored 18 points and Shakeel Moore added 13 as host Mississippi State won its fourth consecutive game by defeating LSU 64-53 on Wednesday night in Starkville, Miss.
Jeffries made 5 of 6 of his 3-point attempts, and Tolu Smith scored 10 points and matched Jeffries' game-high seven rebounds as the Bulldogs (16-8, 4-7 SEC) overcame a slow start offensively to take a three-point halftime lead and pull away in the second half.
Mississippi State had a 20-10 advantage on points off turnovers.
KJ Williams scored 11 points and Adam Miller and former Bulldogs player Derek Fountain added 10 each to lead the Tigers (12-12, 1-10), who lost their 11th straight game.
Mississippi State started the second half with a 9-1 run that produced a 34-23 lead.
Miller's dunk on a three-point play ended an LSU field-goal drought of nearly 12 minutes dating to the first half.
The Tigers got within six points before Smith made two layups and Jeffries added a 3-pointer that gave the Bulldogs a 45-34 lead.
Fountain answered with a three-point play for LSU, but Moore's 3-pointer pushed the lead back to 11 as Mississippi State outscored LSU 39-31 in the second half. The Tigers scored 53 or fewer points for the third time during their losing streak.
Jeffries made two 3-pointers as the Bulldogs scored the first 10 points of the game.
Williams made a 3-pointer for the Tigers' first points, and Tyrell Ward added another 3-pointer during a 10-0 run that pulled LSU even.
Mississippi State broke the tie and scored the next four points before the Tigers scored 10 straight points to take a 20-14 lead.
Smith ended the run by scoring on a put-back, and he made another basket during an 11-2 run that gave the Bulldogs a 25-22 halftime lead as LSU went scoreless for the final 7:19 of the half.
--Field Level Media