Bulldogs Aim For 2-0 Start

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Looking to open the season 2-0 for the first time since 2014-15, Mississippi State welcomes Florida A&M to Humphrey Coliseum Saturday for a 3 p.m. tilt.

The game will be televised on SECN+, with Blake DuDonis and Brock Turnipseed handling the broadcast. The game can also be heard on the MSU radio network with Jim Ellis and Richard Williams.

This game is part of the Hoops in the Heartland event, which benefits the non-profit organization, Men Against Breast Cancer.

LAST TIME OUT
MSU easily defeated Alabama State, 96-68.

THE SERIES
The Bulldogs are 3-0 all-time against the Rattlers, all games in Starkville. The two teams last met in December of 2013.

KEY LINKS
Live Stats: http://hailst.at/2hHs26z
SEC Network +: http://hailst.at/2hHWeOK

COACHES
Ben Howland enters his third year at MSU and 22^nd overall. As head coach in four different stops, he is 432-239 with 31-33 mark with the Bulldogs.

Robert McCullum is in his first year with Florida A&M and owns a 0-3 ledger. Overall, he's 84-124 in eight years.

QUOTABLE
"They're going to push the ball, play some zone and play a lot of man. So, they're going to be a challenge for us." — Ben Howland on Florida A&M.

BULLDOG BITES

Mississippi State's three wins against Florida A&M have been by an average of 24.7 points.
MSU is 8-0 all-time versus the 12 current teams that comprise the MEAC. MSU has played Florida A&M the most at three games. Overall, MSU has played just six MEAC teams.
The last MEAC team MSU faced was North Carolina Central, a 71-48 win on Dec. 31, 2015.
MSU has now won 13 of its last 16 season openers, including all three under Ben Howland.
With the win against Alabama State, Bulldogs improved to 83-23 in lid-lifters.
MSU's bench totaled 50 points against ASU, the most since having 54 in the season opener against Eastern Washington in 2015-16.
The Bulldogs' schedule features four first-time opponents — Green Bay, Stephen F. Austin, North Dakota State and North Florida.
Quinndary Weatherspoon is now 134 points shy of becoming the 37th player in school history to reach 1,000 for a career following his 17-point performance against the Hornets.
Junior forward Aric Holman is 9 blocked shots away from tying Marcus Campbell for the 10th most in school history with 87.
Aric Holman tied his career highs in points (18) and rebounds (11) against Alabama State, while recording his third-career double-double.
MSU is one of five DI teams without any scholarship seniors, along with Chattanooga, Holy Cross, Kentucky and Robert Morris.
Against Alabama State, MSU had four players make their MSU debut — Nick Weatherspoon, along with walk-ons Tate Clayton, T.J. Gray and Mitchell Storm.
MSU is one of 29 schools with brothers on the roster.
The last time Mississippi State had two brothers start in the same game was Reginald and Reggie Delk against West Virginia in the NIT Final Four in Madison Square Garden on March 27, 2007.

NEXT 3 UP
Nov. 18 vs. Florida A&M in Starkville
Nov. 20 vs. Wisconsin Green Bay in Starkville
Nov. 22 vs Stephen F. Austin in Starkville

PROMOTIONS

FREE Bully's Kidz Kourt for Kids in Mize Practice (4-5:15 p.m.)
Texaco Fan Cam for $50 Gift Card
Trustmark Hail State Rewards Jackpot for Chance at $100 Cash
T-Shirt Toss
Up to 225 Hail State Rewards Points
150 Bully's Kids Club Points

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tate Clayton

T.J. Gray

Aric Holman

Mitchell Storm

Nick Weatherspoon

Quinndary Weatherspoon

Mississippi State University Athletics