Mississippi State Dominates LSU in SEC Road Win

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Mississippi State controlled the game from start to finish, building a 23-point halftime lead and never letting LSU mount a serious comeback in an 80-62 road win over the Tigers on Wednesday night. The Bulldogs shot 52% from the field and outrebounded LSU 26-14 in the first half to take a commanding 44-21 lead into the break. While LSU made a brief push early in the second half, freshman King Grace quickly squashed any momentum with a sequence of plays that pushed the Mississippi State lead back to 24 points. The Bulldogs cruised from there, earning a much-needed SEC road victory.

Why it matters

The win is a big boost for Mississippi State's NCAA Tournament hopes, as the Bulldogs had struggled to close out games after building early leads in SEC play. This dominant performance on the road against an LSU team that had been playing well shows that Mississippi State can sustain its intensity for 40 minutes and earn a crucial conference victory.

The details

Mississippi State jumped out to a fast start, building a 27-point lead in the first half behind balanced scoring and a dominant effort on the glass. The Bulldogs shot 52% from the field and 50% from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes, while outrebounding LSU 26-14. While LSU made a brief push early in the second half, freshman King Grace quickly squashed any momentum with a sequence of plays that pushed the Mississippi State lead back to 24 points. The Bulldogs cruised from there, never allowing the Tigers to get within striking distance.

• Mississippi State opened the game on a dominant run, building a 27-point lead in the first half.
• The Bulldogs led LSU 44-21 at halftime.

What’s next

Mississippi State will look to build on this road win when they face Missouri on Saturday in Columbia.