Mississippi State @ Southern Miss preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 19, 2016 ) Mississippi State 86, Southern Miss 44

Mississippi State is rolling again after suffering its first loss of the season, entering Saturday’s contest against Southern Mississippi in Jackson, Miss., riding a two-game winning streak and seeing guard Quinndary Weatherspoon surpass 1,000 career points. Weatherspoon scored 21 points to lead the way in Wednesday’s 64-48 victory over Little Rock, helping the Bulldogs overcome a sluggish start that found Mississippi State nursing a three-point halftime lead.

“He was cramping up, though, and I played him a lot in the first half,” Mississippi State coach Ben Howland told reporters in describing Weatherspoon, who is the 37th player in school history to surpass 1,000. “But he kept pacing us in the second half.” Weatherspoon, who reached 1,000 points on a free throw with 2:07 left in the first half, scored two baskets early in the second half to get the Bulldogs going on offense. Mississippi State, which lost to No. 22 Cincinnati after winning its first eight games, is off to its best start since 2011-12. The Golden Eagles saw their four-game winning streak end with a thud Thursday, falling 98-45 at No. 25 Florida State.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, None.

ABOUT SOUTHERN MISS (7-5): The Golden Eagles shot a season-worst 29.5 percent from the field Thursday and committed 19 turnovers, a season high. Even with Thursday’s struggles, Southern Miss still ranks seventh nationally in turnovers per game (9.8). Cortez Edwards, one of three Southern Miss players to score eight points against the Seminoles, leads the Golden Eagles in scoring at 16.6 points per game on 50 percent shooting from the field.

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (10-1): The Bulldogs rank 15th nationally in opposing field-goal percentage, holding opponents to 37.7 percent shooting, and are 10th nationally and first in the SEC in scoring defense (60.8 points allowed per game). Weatherspoon leads three scorers averaging in double figures at 14.5 points per game, shooting 52.3 percent from the field. Freshman forward Abdul Ado finished with a career-high 13 rebounds and blocked three shots.

TIP-INS

1. The Bulldogs have held five of their first 11 opponents to 60 points or fewer this season, and limited nine opponents to less than 40 percent shooting from the field.

2. Mississippi State allowed a season-low four 3-pointers against Little Rock in improving to 10-0 at home.

3. After shooting 24 percent from the field in the first half, the Bulldogs hit 52 percent of their attempts in the final 20 minutes.

PREDICTION: Mississippi State 76, Southern Miss 54