Shawn Jones Jr. scored 17 points Saturday and Josh Hubbard added 15 as Mississippi State notched a 75-68 non-conference win over Southeastern Louisiana in Starkville, Miss.
The Bulldogs improved to 2-1 despite committing 16 turnovers that led to 26 points. But they owned the rebounding battle 43-33 and shot 38% from 3-point range and 45.5% from the floor.
Jeremy Elyzee scored a game-high 19 points and Jalen Forrest added 16 for the Lions (0-4) in their highest-scoring game of the season. Southeastern Louisiana made only 36.4% of its shots from the floor, including 4 of 25 from the 3-point line. The team was 0-for-12 from deep in the second half.
Mississippi State owned a 67-50 advantage with 6:18 to play after Hubbard connected on a 3-pointer. But the Lions chipped away and got as close as 68-62 at the 2:02 mark when Elyzee fed Isaiah Gaines for a layup.
However, Jayden Epps delivered a mid-range jumper in the lane with 1:42 left to restore an eight-point edge, then made 3 of 4 foul shots in the final 1:17 to help the Bulldogs avoid a major upset.
Coming in as a 28 1/2-point favorite, Mississippi State experienced difficulty at the start for the third straight game. Coach Chris Jans shuffled 11 players in and out during the first half without finding much continuity.
Southeastern Louisiana rattled off 12 straight points in a span of just 2:08 to take a 19-13 lead at the 10:43 mark of the first half when Elyzee put back a missed dunk by Ubong-Abasi Etim. The game was tied at 31 when Seth Jones drilled a 13-footer with 2:04 left.
However, Epps and King Grace took turns making 3-pointers, and Grace drew a three-shot foul with 22 seconds remaining in the half. He made all three to cap a 9-2 burst that allowed the Bulldogs to take a 40-35 edge at halftime.
