North Dakota State @ Mississippi State preview

Mississippi State attempts to continue its undefeated start when it hosts North Dakota State in non-conference play on Thursday. A victory would give the Bulldogs their first 6-0 start since 2003-04 but Mississippi State figures to be without suspended guard Lamar Peters for a third straight game.

Peters, a sophomore guard averaging 12.3 points, was disciplined for a violation of team rules and there is no indication how long the suspension will last. He was missed in Sunday's 59-56 win over Jacksonville State as junior guard Quinndary Weatherspoon hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 0.7 seconds left to provide the victory. "Three close games in a row for us," Mississippi coach Ben Howland said of the victory. "Very happy that we won. Jacksonville State will again be in the NCAA Tournament, like they were last year. The key for us was playing good defense." North Dakota State committed a startling 28 turnovers in its last outing when it dropped a 54-50 decision to Stephen F. Austin.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, SEC Network

ABOUT NORTH DAKOTA STATE (3-3): Senior guard Paul Miller is averaging a team-best 14 points per game but is struggling with his shooting at 34.2 percent, well below the 45-percent figure of last season when he averaged 16.7 points. Miller is nine 3-pointers away from becoming the eighth player in program history to make 200 and he has a chance to approach the school record of 257 held by Ben Nemmers (2000-04). Sophomore guard Tyson Ward (12.8) and freshman guard Cameron Hunter (10.3) also are averaging in double digits for the Bison, who are scoring 68.7 points per contest while recording 66 or fewer four times.

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (5-0): The Bulldogs' last two victories have been by five or fewer points and that is just fine with Weatherspoon, who is averaging a team-best 12.8 points. "We are learning to win close games," Weatherspoon told reporters. "We played a bunch of them last year but didn't win very many of them. It's been a next man up-type situation. I think it has brought us together." Weatherspoon's younger brother Nick, a freshman guard, is averaging 12 points per game while junior power forward Aric Holman (11.4) and sophomore guard Tyson Carter (11 per game) also average in double digits.

TIP-INS

1. This is the first meeting between the two programs.

2. Bulldogs freshman F Abdul Ado leads the SEC with 3.3 blocks per contest and is averaging 9.3 points and a team-leading 7.5 rebounds.

3. The Bison are allowing an average of 58 points over their past four games.

PREDICTION: Mississippi State 66, North Dakota State 57