North Georgia @ Mississippi State preview

Through the typically turbulent opening weeks of the college basketball season there are nine teams entering the weekend undefeated, and Mississippi State likely is the safest bet to remain that way considering they host Division II North Georgia on Saturday. The Bulldogs have been impressive in winning their first seven games, grinding out a tough 61-59 home victory over Dayton on Sunday as Quinndary Weatherspoon scored the game winner with eight seconds left.

Mississippi State is off to its best start since opening the 2003-04 schedule with 13 consecutive victories, showing toughness against the Flyers by pulling out the victory after losing a 15-point halftime lead. “We did a great job defensively in the first half and got off to a good start in the second half,” Bulldogs coach Ben Howland told the media after his team held its sixth opponent to fewer than 69 points. Sophomore guard Tyson Carter leads Mississippi State in scoring and is averaging 20.8 points in his past four games. North Georgia has dropped five of its first seven games this season, falling 88-76 to Francis Marion on Dec. 2.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, SEC Network Plus

ABOUT NORTH GEORGIA (2-5): The Nighthawks won 15 games last season and feature senior guard Shaquan Cantrell, who became the program’s all-time leading scorer in NCAA competition Nov. 25. Cantrell leads the Nighthawks in scoring at 19.6 points per game, while sophomore guard Ephraim Tshimanga is shooting 63.2 percent from the field in averaging 17.6 points per game. North Georgia has allowed 84.1 points per game.

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (7-0): Carter earned SEC player of the week honors after scoring 20 points against Dayton and a career-high 35 against North Dakota State. His 15.7 points per game paces five Bulldogs averaging in double figures, while Weatherspoon adds 12 points, 6.1 rebounds and five assists per contest. Mississippi State is limiting opponents to 37.4 percent shooting from the field, ranking 18th nationally entering Thursday.

TIP-INS

1. Mississippi State ranked 11th in the nation with 6.3 blocked shots per contest, and its 61.9 points per game allowed is 21st in the country through Wednesday.

2. Bulldogs freshman G Nick Weatherspoon, Quinndary younger brother, is third on the team in scoring at 11.1 points per game.

3. The Bulldogs have won their seven games by an average of 14.6 points.

PREDICTION: Mississippi State 89, North Georgia 52