Iverson Molinar scored 15 points and Mississippi State’s defense dominated in the second half in a 66-46 nonconference victory over Morehead State on Sunday afternoon.
D.J. Jeffries had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Shakeel Moore had 13 points for the Bulldogs (4-0), who outscored the Eagles 37-18 in the second half for their fourth consecutive double-digit victory margin.
Mississippi State held Morehead State (2-3) to just two points and no field goals during the final 6:21 of the game.
Tray Hollowell scored 10 points to lead Morehead State, which remained winless on the road after games at Auburn and UAB.
Mississippi State, which entered the game with an average rebounding margin of plus-10, held a 44-21 edge on the boards against Morehead State. The Eagles entered the game with a plus-13.5 margin.
Molinar had a three-point play and Moore made a 3-pointer during an 8-0 run to start the second half that gave Mississippi State a 37-28 lead.
The Bulldogs led by nine twice more before Johni Broome twice made a jumper to cut the lead to six.
But Andersson Garcia had two baskets as MSU increased its lead to 55-41.
Morehead State cut the deficit to 11 twice, but Skyelar Potter’s free throws with 4:48 left provided the Eagles’ final points.
MSU scored the first five points of the game and took a 16-8 lead on Moore’s 3-pointer.
Potter made a 3-pointer for the Eagles, but Jeffries’ dunk gave the Bulldogs a 20-11 lead.
Ta’lon Cooper, Potter, Drew Thelwell and Hallowell each made a 3-pointer during a 12-0 run that gave Morehead State a 23-20 lead.
Molinar’s jumper and layup put MSU back on top before Cooper’s 3-pointer and Johni Broome’s jumper gave the Eagles a 28-24 lead.
Javian Davis’ basket and Moore’s 3-pointer put the Bulldogs on top 29-28 at halftime.
–Field Level Media
