New Mexico St. @ Mississippi State preview

Nick Weatherspoon is back for Mississippi State just in time for the last game before Christmas break, a showdown with visiting New Mexico State on Sunday in Jackson, Miss. Weatherspoon missed the first 10 games of the season because of suspension and the Bulldogs, who will face the Aggies for the first time, have gotten on well without him.

Weatherspoon started all but one game last season, averaging 9.6 points and 2.3 assists, before being suspended for the final 10 games, but his return will give coach Ben Howland another option. "Getting Nick back allows us to normalize our minutes," Howland, whose team will be facing their fourth regular season conference champion from a season ago in the Aggies of the Western Athletic Conference, told the media. "Just taking five minutes less off some of these starter's roles is really going to help them perform better." Iverson Molinar and D.J. Stewart, Jr. are the players that will likely be most affected by Weatherspoon's return and the two freshmen have played well, combining to average 26.4 minutes, 18.7 points and 4.5 assists. The Aggies received some good news when Evan Gilyard, who averaged 11.3 points in two seasons at UTEP, was granted a waiver to play immediately and the junior was in the lineup Wednesday, playing 17 minutes and scoring three points in a 65-40 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

TV: 3 p.m. ET, SEC Network

ABOUT NEW MEXICO STATE (7-6): Ivan Aurrecoechea had shown glimpses of what he can do on the offensive end earlier in the season, but he is doing it more consistently of late. The senior forward from Spain, who has averaged 15 points in the last three games and 12.4 points in the last five, matched his season high of 19 points and finished one rebound shy of a double-double against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Sophomore guard Jabari Rice has averaged 14.6 points while scoring in double figures in a career-best six straight games.

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (8-2): There is little question that Robert Woodard II has been the most improved player this season for the Bulldogs, who can post nine wins before Christmas for the third straight season. Woodard was a solid player off the bench as a freshman last season, starting only one game, but this season he has started every game while at least doubling his averages in most statistical categories. The 6-7 guard from Columbus, Ohio, whose 3-point shooting of 54.2 percent would be among the best in the nation if he qualified, is averaging 12.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals this season.

TIP-INS

1. Mississippi State is first in the country in offensive rebound percentage (34.8) according to Kenpom, which it turns into 16.4 second-chance points per game.

2. The Aggies are 2-8 against the current members of the SEC.

3. The Bulldogs have gone 3-1 against regular season conference champions from last season, beating Radford, Kansas State and Sam Houston State and falling to Villanova.

PREDICTION: Mississippi State 70, New Mexico State 62