Gameday: Five Things to Know About MSU-Arizona State

Monday, November 19

Las Vegas, Nev. (T-Mobile Arena)

10:00 PM

Mississippi State

Arizona State

Photo by: Trevor Birchett/MSU Athletics

Gameday: Five Things to Know About MSU-Arizona State

November 18, 2018 | Men's Basketball

Watch on ESPNU Listen Live Live Stats Game Notes (PDF)

by Matt Dunaway, Associate Director/Communications

LAS VEGAS – A pair of 3-0 squads will meet on the hardwood when No. 17 Mississippi State and Arizona State face off in the semifinals of the MGM Resorts Main Event on Monday from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The Matchup: No 17 Mississippi State (2-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Arizona State (3-0, 0-0 Pac-12)
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada – T-Mobile Arena
When: Monday, Nov. 19, 10:00 p.m. CT
Live Stats: StatBroadcast (https://hailst.at/MBKLiveStats)

TV: ESPNU
Talent: Mike Couzens, Jordan Cornette
Online: WatchESPN App (https://hailst.at/MSUvsASU1119)

Radio: Mississippi State Sports Network – Powered by Learfield
Talent: Jim Ellis, Richard Williams
Affiliates: WKBB-FM 100.9 Starkville/West Point (Full List: https://hailst.at/MBKAffiliates)
Free Online Audio: Hail State Plus (https://hailst.at/MBKListen); Tune-In Radio App (https://hailst.at/MBKTuneIn)
Sirius/XM: Ch. 137 (Sirius), Ch. 190 (XM), Ch. 961 (Internet)

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE
1. The Bulldogs have been strong on the defense end during their opening three games limiting the opposition to 59.0 points per game which ranks third on the SEC leaderboard. Mississippi State also has forced its opponents into 59 turnovers on the young season.

2. Quinndary Weatherspoon has piled up 21.3 points per game ignited by a trio of 20-point performances to start the season. The Bulldogs are 17-2 and have won nine straight games over the last two seasons when Weatherspoon surpasses 20-plus points. The Canton, Mississippi native has a chance to climb up three spots on MSU's all-time scoring list on Monday. He will start the night in 16th place and is five points shy of passing Charles Rhodes (2005-06-07-08) coupled with 15 points away from Cameron Burns (1989-90-91) and Ravern Johnson (2008-09-10-11).

3. Mississippi State is the only SEC school to have four players inside the top 20 on the league's active scoring list. Outside of Quinndary Weatherspoon who holds the top spot, Aric Holman (743 PTS), Lamar Peters (677 PTS) and Tyson Carter (612 PTS) are ranked 11th, 14th and 17th, respectively. The quarter has accounted for 10 of the team's 13 games in double figures.

4. Tyson Carter has rattled off 14.3 points, 3.0 steals and 2.7 points per game fueled by three games in double figures to start the season. He has showcased multiple ways to score. For his career, 49.8 of his field goals are from three-point territory. However, Carter is 13-for-21 on his two-point attempts this season. The Bulldogs have won 15 of 17 contests when Carter has notched 10-plus points over the last two seasons.

5. Reggie Perry's 14 rebounds during the Long Beach State game was the second-highest total for a player during the Ben Howland era at Mississippi State. For the season, Perry is averaging 5.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. The 6.3 boards are tops among bench coming off the bench.

KNOW YOUR OPPONENT
Arizona State's high-octane attack has been fueled by seven players who have averaged 7.0 points per game or more. The Sun Devils also have been a force on the offensive glass with 53 o-boards through their opening three games.

Luguentz Dort has fired in a team-leading 21.7 points per game followed by Kimani Lawrence and Rob Edwards at 15.0 and 14.0 points per game, respectively. The Dort-Lawrence combination has connected for 11 of the team's 20 three-pointers.

Zylan Cheatham, a transfer from San Diego State, has stuffed the stats sheet with 13.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.0 blocks per game. De'Quon Lake has dialed up 8.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. Lake has made 12 of his 15 shot attempts on the young season.

UP NEXT
Mississippi State will square off with either Saint Mary's or Utah State to conclude the MGM Resorts Main Event on Wednesday. Tipoff is set for either 7:30 p.m. CT or 10 p.m. CT depending on Monday's result. The 7:30 p.m. consolation contest will be streamed online only by WatchESPN whereas the 10 p.m. championship tilt will be televised by ESPNU.

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets by searching 'HailStateMBK' on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.