Wednesday, December 16
Starkville
6:00 PM
Mississippi State
vs
Central Arkansas
Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Gameday: Five Things to Know about MSU-Central Arkansas
December 15, 2020 | Men's Basketball
by Matt Dunaway, Associate Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State returns to the friendly confines of Humphrey Coliseum and will look to return to the win column versus Central Arkansas on Wednesday.
Tip time and television coverage has been changed to 6 p.m. CT by SEC Network and available online courtesy of the Watch ESPN app, which gives the Bulldogs more national exposure on the ESPN Family of Networks.
The Bulldogs (3-3) have won all three of their home outings to start the 2020-21 campaign by an average of 15.0 points per game. Mississippi State has piled up a 70-19 home record and dialed up wins during 40 of its 44 non-conference decisions under sixth-year coach Ben Howland.
Last time out, D.J. Stewart Jr. piled up a career-best 32 points followed by Iverson Molinar's 20 points and career-high seven assists as the Bulldogs were handed an 85-82 double-overtime defeat by Dayton (12/12).
MSU-CENTRAL ARKANSAS HARDWOOD SERIES
Wednesday's meeting marks the third time that Mississippi State and Central Arkansas will meet. The Bulldogs won both meetings, the most recent a 79-72 victory, in Jackson on 12/22/2012.
Where: Starkville, Mississippi – Humphrey Coliseum
When: Wednesday, December 16, 6:00 p.m. CT
Live Stats: StatBroadcast (https://hailst.at/MBKLiveStats)
TV: SEC Network
Talent: Roy Philpott, Mark Wise
DirecTV: Ch. 611, Dish: Ch. 404/408, AT&T U-Verse: Ch. 1607, MaxxSouth: Ch. 1026, C Spire: Ch. 220
Online: Watch ESPN app & Watch ESPN online (Cable Subscription Required)
(https://hailst.at/UCAvsMSU121620)
Radio: Mississippi State Sports Network – Powered by Learfield IMG College
Talent: Neil Price
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. 192 (XM), Ch. 963 (Internet)
MASKS/METAL DETECTORS/CLEAR BAGS
Mississippi State Athletics has received capacity guidelines and designed a socially distanced seating plan to host fans in the healthiest manner possible for the 2020-21 season.
The plan is focused on the recommended health and safety protocols put in place by health officials from the Mississippi State Department of Health, Mississippi State University, the city of Starkville, the Southeastern Conference and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to protect the well-being of all student-athletes, fans and staff.
Capacity at Humphrey Coliseum for the 2020-21 season will be 10 percent as determined by the Governor's most recent Executive Order.
All fans will be required to wear a face covering, face shield or mask, over the nose and mouth during all times except when actively eating or drinking while inside Humphrey Coliseum.
In an effort to continue Mississippi State's long-standing commitment to provide a safe and secure environment for all fans, coaches and student-athletes, walk-through metal detectors have been implemented at all entrances of Humphrey Coliseum on basketball gamedays.
Fans will be asked to follow the instructions of the security screening staff and place large metal objects such as phones, keys and cameras in containers or in their clear bag on screening tables before passing through the walk-through metal detectors.
Fans will not be required to remove belts, watches, wallets, jewelry, shoes, jackets, coins or other small objects. The metal detectors and clear bag policies provide a safer atmosphere and speed up the entry process into The Hump.
Doors to Humphrey Coliseum open 60 minutes prior to tipoff. For more gameday information, fans are encouraged to visit: https://hailst.at/MBKGameday
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE
1. Mississippi State has piled up three consecutive 20-plus win seasons and 71 total victories since the start of 2017-18. The 71 wins are tied for the fourth-highest total with LSU and only trail Auburn, Kentucky and Tennessee since 2017-18 in the SEC.
Mississippi State's coaching staff led by Ben Howland along with assistant coaches George Brooks, Korey McCray and Ernie Zeigler, who are in their sixth season together in Starkville during the 2020-21 season.
The Bulldogs coaching quartet of head coach and three assistants is one of eight staffs in the country to remain together at the same school for the last six seasons. The other staffs include Michigan State (11th) led by Tom Izzo, West Virginia (9th) led by Bob Huggins, UAlbany (9th) led by Will Brown, Kansas (7th) led by Bill Self, Oregon (7th) led by Dana Altman, Vermont (7th) led by John Becker and Bradley (6th) led by Brian Wardle.
Most recently, Howland collected his 500th career victory during a 68-51 win over Texas State (11/30) and secured his 100th win at Mississippi State as part of 69-63 victory over North Texas (12/04).
2. Iverson Molinar, Tolu Smith and D.J. Stewart Jr. are etching their names among the notable freshmen-to-sophomore jumps at Mississippi State, under Ben Howland and the SEC.
Stewart Jr. (19.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.0 APG) has amassed four of his top seven career scoring performances during the young season. He exploded for a career-high and SEC season's best 32 points on 13-of-22 shooting versus Dayton (12/12). Stewart Jr. is the fifth sophomore during the 2000s, and the 13th sophomore overall to notch 30-plus points in a game dating back to the 1954-55 season. The list features nine 1,000 point scorers and are the most points for a MSU player in a game since former teammate Tyson Carter (2017-18-19-20) piled up 35 points against North Dakota State (11/30/2017). Stewart Jr.'s 19.0 points per game are third on the SEC leaderboard. Only Stewart Jr. and LSU's Cameron Thomas have three games of 20-plus points in the SEC this season.
Molinar (18.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.3 SPG) came away with 20 points and distributed a career-high seven assists versus Dayton (12/12). He and Stewart Jr. are two of nine players in program history to score at least 20-plus points as a freshmen or sophomore during two of his first three games of a season since 1956-57. Prior to Molinar and Stewart Jr., the last freshmen or sophomore to accomplish the feat was Quinndary Weatherspoon in 2016-17. Molinar's current freshman-sophomore jump of 13.8 points per game is the largest of any SEC player over the last decade. He has garnered three of his top five career scoring efforts in 2020-21 highlighted by a career-high 21 points against Jackson State (12/08). His 18.7 points per game would be fourth in the SEC rankings if he qualified. The Bulldogs are 7-1 during Molinar's career when he provides double figures.
Smith (14.7 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.0 BPG) has joined Stewart Jr. in double figures during each of MSU's first six games. Prior to MSU, his previous career-high was nine points against West Virginia (11/16/2018) while at Western Kentucky. Smith and Stewart Jr. are the third set of teammates to be sophomore or younger and the 15th set of teammates overall to secure double figures over their first six games of a season. The last MSU pair to have a six-game run to start the season in double figures was Kodi Augustus and Ravern Johnson in 2010-11, while the last duo to accomplish the feat as sophomores or younger are top 10 scorers Rickey Brown and Ray White in 1976-77. The Bay St. Louis product is one of six SEC players to secure multiple double-doubles on the season. Smith's 8.2 rebounds are sixth, while his 14.7 points are 14th among the SEC leaders.
3. Abdul Ado (5.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.5 BPG), the SEC's active leader in blocks and rebounds, is scheduled to make his 104th career start during Wednesday's Central Arkansas game. The 104 starts is good enough for sole possession of sixth place going back to the 1986-87 season. He ranks fourth overall among NCAA active players in blocks and 12th among active Power 5 players in rebounds.
Ado has ranked among the SEC's top 10 in blocks shots during all four seasons and his 1.5 blocks per game are tied for eighth this season. Overall, Ado has piled up 191 career blocks, which ranks fifth in program history. His 1.83 career blocks per game is third in program history only behind NCAA all-time leader Jarvis Varnado and Erick Dampier. The Nigeria native enters Wednesday's action five blocks shy of passing former teammate Aric Holman (2016-17-18-19) for fourth place.
Ado is Mississippi State's all-time field goal percentage leader heading into the Central Arkansas contest among players with at least 240 baskets made. His 60.4 career shooting clip also checks in fifth among active Power 5 players and is 10th highest overall among the NCAA active players.
4. Mississippi State's roster features a talented group of newcomers. The freshmen class is ignited by Deivon Smith (4.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.0 SPG) and Cameron Matthews (2.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.5 SPG), who became the first freshmen tandem to start the season opener since Tyson Carter and Mario Kegler during the 2016-17 season.
Smith, the eighth ESPN top 100 signee to play with the Bulldogs under head coach Ben Howland, tallied a solid all-around effort with 10 points, five assists and two steals during the Liberty game (11/26). Over his last four outings, Matthews has dished out 11 assists against four turnovers.
MSU's freshmen class also features Keondre Montgomery and Derek Fountain, who coupled with Matthews, are the state of Mississippi's top three prospects for the Class of 2020. Montgomery and Fountain sank their first career baskets against Texas State (11/30) and Jackson State (12/08), respectively.
5. Mississippi State's top performer off the bench has been Jalen Johnson (5.2 PPG, 2.3 RPG). Javian Davis (4.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG) and Quinten Post (3.8 PPG, 2.0 RPG) also have made solid bench contributions for the Bulldogs.
Johnson piled up 1,061 points and 495 rebounds between his three seasons at Saint Louis and Louisiana-Lafayette. He has collected 51 career outings of 10-plus points and 11 outings of 20-plus points. Johnson provided a season-high 10 points versus North Texas (12/04) and has tallied at least five points during five of MSU's six games on the season
Post put forth his best all-around effort during his first extended action in the Maroon and White. He pumped in career-highs with nine points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks during the Texas State game (11/30). Post tacked on six points and a steal against Dayton (12/12).
Davis posted 6.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game over his 31 appearances as a redshirt freshmen at Alabama in 2019-20. His top Bama performance was a 20-point, 10-rebound effort against South Carolina (02/29/2020). Davis has upped his marks to 5.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game over his last three four sparked by a season's best 11 points versus Jackson State (12/08)
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT
Central Arkansas has dropped back-to-back road contests to SEC members Arkansas (100-75 on 12/12) and Ole Miss (68-54 on 12/14) over the last three days.
The Bears have two players averaging in double figures headed by Rylan Bergersen (15.8 PPG, 3.2 APG, 1.4 SPG) and Deandre Jones (11.2 PPG, 4.8 APG, 1.2 SPG). The duo has combined to knock down 20 of the team's 34 three-pointers.
Bergersen has secured 10-plus points during all five games for UCA sparked by a 22-point performance at Memphis on 12/04, while Jones poured in a season's best 23 points during the Little Rock game on 12/06. Jared Chatham (8.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG) compiled the team's lone double-double on the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds at Arkansas on 12/12.
UP NEXT
Mississippi State wraps up the December portion of its non-conference schedule against Mississippi Valley State on Monday. Tip time is on-tap for 7 p.m. CT from Humphrey Coliseum televised by the SEC Network and available online courtesy of the Watch ESPN app.
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.
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State returns to the friendly confines of Humphrey Coliseum and will look to return to the win column versus Central Arkansas on Wednesday.
Tip time and television coverage has been changed to 6 p.m. CT by SEC Network and available online courtesy of the Watch ESPN app, which gives the Bulldogs more national exposure on the ESPN Family of Networks.
The Bulldogs (3-3) have won all three of their home outings to start the 2020-21 campaign by an average of 15.0 points per game. Mississippi State has piled up a 70-19 home record and dialed up wins during 40 of its 44 non-conference decisions under sixth-year coach Ben Howland.
Last time out, D.J. Stewart Jr. piled up a career-best 32 points followed by Iverson Molinar's 20 points and career-high seven assists as the Bulldogs were handed an 85-82 double-overtime defeat by Dayton (12/12).
MSU-CENTRAL ARKANSAS HARDWOOD SERIES
Wednesday's meeting marks the third time that Mississippi State and Central Arkansas will meet. The Bulldogs won both meetings, the most recent a 79-72 victory, in Jackson on 12/22/2012.
Gavin Ware led a five-player attack in double figures with 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting and grabbed 13 rebounds. Trivante Bloodman (12 PTS), Colin Borchert (11 PTS), Tyson Cunningham (10 PTS) and Craig Sword (10 PTS) also recorded double-digit points for the Bulldogs.
The Matchup: Mississippi State (3-3, 0-0 SEC) vs. Central Arkansas (0-5, 0-0 Southland)Where: Starkville, Mississippi – Humphrey Coliseum
When: Wednesday, December 16, 6:00 p.m. CT
Live Stats: StatBroadcast (https://hailst.at/MBKLiveStats)
TV: SEC Network
Talent: Roy Philpott, Mark Wise
DirecTV: Ch. 611, Dish: Ch. 404/408, AT&T U-Verse: Ch. 1607, MaxxSouth: Ch. 1026, C Spire: Ch. 220
Online: Watch ESPN app & Watch ESPN online (Cable Subscription Required)
(https://hailst.at/UCAvsMSU121620)
Radio: Mississippi State Sports Network – Powered by Learfield IMG College
Talent: Neil Price
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. 192 (XM), Ch. 963 (Internet)
MASKS/METAL DETECTORS/CLEAR BAGS
Mississippi State Athletics has received capacity guidelines and designed a socially distanced seating plan to host fans in the healthiest manner possible for the 2020-21 season.
The plan is focused on the recommended health and safety protocols put in place by health officials from the Mississippi State Department of Health, Mississippi State University, the city of Starkville, the Southeastern Conference and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to protect the well-being of all student-athletes, fans and staff.
Capacity at Humphrey Coliseum for the 2020-21 season will be 10 percent as determined by the Governor's most recent Executive Order.
All fans will be required to wear a face covering, face shield or mask, over the nose and mouth during all times except when actively eating or drinking while inside Humphrey Coliseum.
In an effort to continue Mississippi State's long-standing commitment to provide a safe and secure environment for all fans, coaches and student-athletes, walk-through metal detectors have been implemented at all entrances of Humphrey Coliseum on basketball gamedays.
Fans will be asked to follow the instructions of the security screening staff and place large metal objects such as phones, keys and cameras in containers or in their clear bag on screening tables before passing through the walk-through metal detectors.
Fans will not be required to remove belts, watches, wallets, jewelry, shoes, jackets, coins or other small objects. The metal detectors and clear bag policies provide a safer atmosphere and speed up the entry process into The Hump.
Doors to Humphrey Coliseum open 60 minutes prior to tipoff. For more gameday information, fans are encouraged to visit: https://hailst.at/MBKGameday
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE
1. Mississippi State has piled up three consecutive 20-plus win seasons and 71 total victories since the start of 2017-18. The 71 wins are tied for the fourth-highest total with LSU and only trail Auburn, Kentucky and Tennessee since 2017-18 in the SEC.
Mississippi State's coaching staff led by Ben Howland along with assistant coaches George Brooks, Korey McCray and Ernie Zeigler, who are in their sixth season together in Starkville during the 2020-21 season.
The Bulldogs coaching quartet of head coach and three assistants is one of eight staffs in the country to remain together at the same school for the last six seasons. The other staffs include Michigan State (11th) led by Tom Izzo, West Virginia (9th) led by Bob Huggins, UAlbany (9th) led by Will Brown, Kansas (7th) led by Bill Self, Oregon (7th) led by Dana Altman, Vermont (7th) led by John Becker and Bradley (6th) led by Brian Wardle.
Most recently, Howland collected his 500th career victory during a 68-51 win over Texas State (11/30) and secured his 100th win at Mississippi State as part of 69-63 victory over North Texas (12/04).
2. Iverson Molinar, Tolu Smith and D.J. Stewart Jr. are etching their names among the notable freshmen-to-sophomore jumps at Mississippi State, under Ben Howland and the SEC.
Stewart Jr. (19.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.0 APG) has amassed four of his top seven career scoring performances during the young season. He exploded for a career-high and SEC season's best 32 points on 13-of-22 shooting versus Dayton (12/12). Stewart Jr. is the fifth sophomore during the 2000s, and the 13th sophomore overall to notch 30-plus points in a game dating back to the 1954-55 season. The list features nine 1,000 point scorers and are the most points for a MSU player in a game since former teammate Tyson Carter (2017-18-19-20) piled up 35 points against North Dakota State (11/30/2017). Stewart Jr.'s 19.0 points per game are third on the SEC leaderboard. Only Stewart Jr. and LSU's Cameron Thomas have three games of 20-plus points in the SEC this season.
Molinar (18.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.3 SPG) came away with 20 points and distributed a career-high seven assists versus Dayton (12/12). He and Stewart Jr. are two of nine players in program history to score at least 20-plus points as a freshmen or sophomore during two of his first three games of a season since 1956-57. Prior to Molinar and Stewart Jr., the last freshmen or sophomore to accomplish the feat was Quinndary Weatherspoon in 2016-17. Molinar's current freshman-sophomore jump of 13.8 points per game is the largest of any SEC player over the last decade. He has garnered three of his top five career scoring efforts in 2020-21 highlighted by a career-high 21 points against Jackson State (12/08). His 18.7 points per game would be fourth in the SEC rankings if he qualified. The Bulldogs are 7-1 during Molinar's career when he provides double figures.
Smith (14.7 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.0 BPG) has joined Stewart Jr. in double figures during each of MSU's first six games. Prior to MSU, his previous career-high was nine points against West Virginia (11/16/2018) while at Western Kentucky. Smith and Stewart Jr. are the third set of teammates to be sophomore or younger and the 15th set of teammates overall to secure double figures over their first six games of a season. The last MSU pair to have a six-game run to start the season in double figures was Kodi Augustus and Ravern Johnson in 2010-11, while the last duo to accomplish the feat as sophomores or younger are top 10 scorers Rickey Brown and Ray White in 1976-77. The Bay St. Louis product is one of six SEC players to secure multiple double-doubles on the season. Smith's 8.2 rebounds are sixth, while his 14.7 points are 14th among the SEC leaders.
3. Abdul Ado (5.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.5 BPG), the SEC's active leader in blocks and rebounds, is scheduled to make his 104th career start during Wednesday's Central Arkansas game. The 104 starts is good enough for sole possession of sixth place going back to the 1986-87 season. He ranks fourth overall among NCAA active players in blocks and 12th among active Power 5 players in rebounds.
Ado has ranked among the SEC's top 10 in blocks shots during all four seasons and his 1.5 blocks per game are tied for eighth this season. Overall, Ado has piled up 191 career blocks, which ranks fifth in program history. His 1.83 career blocks per game is third in program history only behind NCAA all-time leader Jarvis Varnado and Erick Dampier. The Nigeria native enters Wednesday's action five blocks shy of passing former teammate Aric Holman (2016-17-18-19) for fourth place.
Ado is Mississippi State's all-time field goal percentage leader heading into the Central Arkansas contest among players with at least 240 baskets made. His 60.4 career shooting clip also checks in fifth among active Power 5 players and is 10th highest overall among the NCAA active players.
4. Mississippi State's roster features a talented group of newcomers. The freshmen class is ignited by Deivon Smith (4.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.0 SPG) and Cameron Matthews (2.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.5 SPG), who became the first freshmen tandem to start the season opener since Tyson Carter and Mario Kegler during the 2016-17 season.
Smith, the eighth ESPN top 100 signee to play with the Bulldogs under head coach Ben Howland, tallied a solid all-around effort with 10 points, five assists and two steals during the Liberty game (11/26). Over his last four outings, Matthews has dished out 11 assists against four turnovers.
MSU's freshmen class also features Keondre Montgomery and Derek Fountain, who coupled with Matthews, are the state of Mississippi's top three prospects for the Class of 2020. Montgomery and Fountain sank their first career baskets against Texas State (11/30) and Jackson State (12/08), respectively.
5. Mississippi State's top performer off the bench has been Jalen Johnson (5.2 PPG, 2.3 RPG). Javian Davis (4.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG) and Quinten Post (3.8 PPG, 2.0 RPG) also have made solid bench contributions for the Bulldogs.
Johnson piled up 1,061 points and 495 rebounds between his three seasons at Saint Louis and Louisiana-Lafayette. He has collected 51 career outings of 10-plus points and 11 outings of 20-plus points. Johnson provided a season-high 10 points versus North Texas (12/04) and has tallied at least five points during five of MSU's six games on the season
Post put forth his best all-around effort during his first extended action in the Maroon and White. He pumped in career-highs with nine points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks during the Texas State game (11/30). Post tacked on six points and a steal against Dayton (12/12).
Davis posted 6.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game over his 31 appearances as a redshirt freshmen at Alabama in 2019-20. His top Bama performance was a 20-point, 10-rebound effort against South Carolina (02/29/2020). Davis has upped his marks to 5.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game over his last three four sparked by a season's best 11 points versus Jackson State (12/08)
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT
Central Arkansas has dropped back-to-back road contests to SEC members Arkansas (100-75 on 12/12) and Ole Miss (68-54 on 12/14) over the last three days.
The Bears have two players averaging in double figures headed by Rylan Bergersen (15.8 PPG, 3.2 APG, 1.4 SPG) and Deandre Jones (11.2 PPG, 4.8 APG, 1.2 SPG). The duo has combined to knock down 20 of the team's 34 three-pointers.
Bergersen has secured 10-plus points during all five games for UCA sparked by a 22-point performance at Memphis on 12/04, while Jones poured in a season's best 23 points during the Little Rock game on 12/06. Jared Chatham (8.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG) compiled the team's lone double-double on the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds at Arkansas on 12/12.
UP NEXT
Mississippi State wraps up the December portion of its non-conference schedule against Mississippi Valley State on Monday. Tip time is on-tap for 7 p.m. CT from Humphrey Coliseum televised by the SEC Network and available online courtesy of the Watch ESPN app.
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.
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