Weatherspoon Powers MSU Past Spartans With 22 Points

Friday, November 11

Starkville

7:00 PM

Mississippi State

1-0

Norfolk State

0-1

Team	1	2	F
Norfolk State	39	35	74
Mississippi State	39	39	78

Quinndary Weatherspoon scored a game-high 22 points in MSU's 78-74 win on Friday at the Hump.

Weatherspoon Powers MSU Past Spartans With 22 Points

November 11, 2016 | Men's Basketball

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STARKVILLE, Miss. — Four players scored in double figures at Humphrey Coliseum on Friday as Mississippi State downed Norfolk State, 78-74, in the 2016-17 season opener.

The entire first half was a back-and-forth affair, with the Spartans grabbing a six-point lead with 1:59 left in the half on a three-pointer by Micah Goss. MSU fought back to even it up at 39-all at the halfway point with a layup by senior guard I.J. Ready with 15 seconds remaining.

After that, it was all Bulldogs in the second half. They took the lead at 42-39 after true freshman guard Tyson Carter nailed a three-point basket with 19:15 left.

Head coach Ben Howland liked how two of his most experienced players — Ready and sophomore guard Quinndary Weatherspoon — helped keep his team in the game.

"I thought our two leaders — I.J. and Q — did a great job getting us back (into the game)" Howland said. "They did a good job of helping us fight back to get it tied at halftime and give us a lead to start the second half."

Carter had a roaring start to his Bulldog career, scoring 17 points on 6 of 8 from the field, including a game-best 5 of 7 from beyond the arc. The Starkville native also drew his first career start against the Spartans.

Weatherspoon looked to follow up his stellar freshman campaign in which he scored 20 points twice. Against the Spartans, he added another 20-point effort to his belt with his game-high 22. He also grabbed 6 boards.

Sophomore forward Aric Holman recorded his first-career double-double with career-highs in points (11), rebounds (11), blocks (5), steals (2) and minutes (26)..

The Bulldogs are back in action on Thursday, Nov. 17, against Central Florida in Charleston, South Carolina.. Their next game at the Hump is slated for Nov. 25 against LeHigh.