Gameday: Five Things to Know About MSU-Arkansas

Saturday, February 15

Fayetteville, Ark.

12:00 PM

Mississippi State

Arkansas

Gameday: Five Things to Know About MSU-Arkansas

February 14, 2020 | Men's Basketball

WATCH: SEC Network LISTEN: Hail State Plus WATCH: Coach Howland Presser Live Stats

by Matt Dunaway, Associate Director/Communications

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas – Mississippi State will look to pick up its second Quad 1 road victory of the season and its first two-game season sweep of Arkansas dating back to the 2010-11 season when the Bulldogs travel to Bud Walton Arena for a Saturday matinee.

The Matchup: Mississippi State (15-9, 6-5 SEC) vs. Arkansas (16-8, 4-7 SEC)
Where: Fayetteville, Arkansas – Bud Walton Arena
When: Saturday, Feb. 15, 12:00 p.m. CT
Live Stats: StatBroadcast (https://hailst.at/MBKLiveStats)

TV: SEC Network
Talent: Dave Neal, Debbie Antonelli
DirecTV: Ch. 611, Dish: Ch. 404/408, AT&T U-Verse: Ch. 1607, MaxxSouth: Ch. 1026,
C Spire: Ch. 220-222
Online: WatchESPN App (https://hailst.at/MSUvsARK021520)

Radio: Mississippi State Sports Network – Powered by Learfield IMG College
Talent: Neil Price, 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/Internet: Ch. 385 (XM), Ch. 975 (Internet)

MSU-ARKANSAS HARDWOOD SERIES
On the strength of five consecutive series wins under Ben Howland, the Bulldogs have pulled within 33-30 on the all-time ledger and matched their longest winning streak over Arkansas. Mississippi State also pieced together five straight victories versus the Razorbacks from Jan. 10, 2004 to Jan. 7, 2006.

Earlier this season, the Bulldogs emerged with a 77-70 win on Jan. 22 in Starkville to cap a 3-0 homestand as Reggie Perry poured in a then career-high 26 points and 13 rebounds fueled by a 14-for-15 clip at the free throw line. D.J. Stewart Jr. (14 PTS), Nick Weatherspoon (11 PTS) and Tyson Carter (10 PTS) also added double figures.

TICKETS/PROMOTIONS
General admission tickets for Mississippi State's next home game against South Carolina on Wednesday, Feb. 19 are available for as low as $12 including fees at www.HailState.com/tickets or in person at the Mississippi State Athletics Ticket Office located on the first floor of the Bryan Building. The Humphrey Coliseum Box Office opens 90 minutes prior to tipoff on gameday.

Mississippi State is offering a $10 "Super Saturday" ticket for the Ole Miss game on Saturday, March 7 which includes general admission to the baseball game versus Quinnipiac at Dudy Noble Field earlier that day. Fans can purchase this special combined ticket offer online only at www.HailState.com/tickets under the multi-sport packages button.

Mississippi State also has a flex plan available where fans can purchase 10 general admission tickets for $75. The tickets can be redeemed at any remaining home game this season and used in any combination. For example, fans can use two tickets at five games or all 10 tickets at one game.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE
1. Mississippi State will look to put its 83-58 defeat to Ole Miss from Tuesday in the rear-view mirror. Reggie Perry totaled 15 of his 24 points after halftime and added eight rebounds. The sophomore knocked down 8-of-15 from the floor and 8-of-10 at the free throw line. Mississippi State lost for only the second time in 10 games when Perry has eclipsed 20-plus points. D.J. Stewart Jr. dialed up 16 points and four rebounds to compile his fifth double-digit scoring performance over his last seven games. Robert Woodard II gave Mississippi State three players in double figures as he worked his way to 12 points, six rebounds and two assists. He has turned in double figures in five of his last six outings. Abdul Ado and Tyson Carter rounded out the scoring with three points apiece for the Maroon and White who were limited to a SEC season-low in points. Nick Weatherspoon handed out six assists against six turnovers before he fouled out. The Bulldogs fell to 8-2 when Weatherspoon distributes five-plus dimes. Ole Miss took advantage of State's 17 turnovers en route to 27 of the game's 38 points off turnovers. Breein Tyree, the reigning SEC Player of the Week, came away with a performance for the ages as he pumped in 27 of career-best 40 points after halftime.

2. Mississippi State is led by fifth-year head coach Ben Howland along with assistant coaches George Brooks, Korey McCray and Ernie Zeigler. The quartet is one of seven coaching staffs in the nation to remain together at the same school for at least the last five seasons. The Bulldogs group is joined by Michigan State (10th), West Virginia (8th), UAlbany (8th), Kansas (6th), Oregon (6th) and Bradley (5th).

Mississippi State continues to do damage as one of the nation's best offensive rebounding teams. The Bulldogs not only lead the SEC but ranked second in the nation behind only West Virginia heading into this weekend's action with a 38.5 percent offensive rebounding percentage … The Bulldogs have secured a +8.0 rebounding margin which is 1st in the SEC, 4th among Power 5 teams and 9th nationally. Mississippi State also checks in 2nd in the SEC, 6th among Power 5 teams and 19th nationally with 12.83 offensive rebounds per game.

3. Reggie Perry is a preseason All-America selection by Lindy's (First Team), Street & Smith (Second Team) and Athlon Magazines (Third Team) in addition to being named a consensus preseason All-SEC First-Team honoree. He is coming off a sensational offseason where had the opportunity to attend the NBA Draft Combine and workout for several NBA franchises. Perry also captured a gold medal for the USA U19 Team and was the tournament's MVP at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in Greece. He was listed as a preseason candidate for six major awards which included the John R. Wooden, Karl Malone, Lute Olson, Naismith, NABC and Oscar Robertson. The sophomore was named one of 10 finalists for the Karl Malone Award awarded to the nation's top power forward in early February.

Perry, the Naismith Trophy National Player of the Week for 02/03 and two-time SEC Player of the Week, has amassed double figures in 22 of his last 24 games headed by 21.3 PPG over his last nine outings. He has piled up 20-plus points in four of his last five, seven of his last nine and in nine of his last 13 appearances. Perry has posted his top five scoring performances versus SEC opponents during the run fueled by a career-high 27 points at Florida on 01/28, 26 points against Arkansas on 01/22, 25 points versus Vanderbilt on 02/08 and 24 points during the Tennessee and Ole Miss games on 02/01 and 02/11, respectively. Overall, Perry's 17.7 points per game are 4th, while his 9.9 rebounds per game headline the SEC.

Perry has secured a SEC-leading 13 double-doubles this season highlighted by nine double-doubles in his last 14 games since 12/22. Seven of those nine double-doubles have been of the 20-points, 10-rebound variety. He became the first MSU player since Rickey Brown to start the 1979-80 to piece together three consecutive 20-10 games when he accomplished the feat during the Missouri, Arkansas and Georgia games from 01/14 to 01/22. Perry's 22 career double-doubles are tops among SEC active players, and the most by a MSU player during his freshman and sophomore seasons combined since Erick Dampier compiled 20 during the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons.

Perry along with Iowa's Luke Garza are just outside of joining a group of four Power 5 conference players this season to average a double-double. The club includes John Mooney (Notre Dame), Daniel Oturo (Minnesota), Jalen Smith (Maryland) and Xavier Tillman (Michigan State). MSU has had 11 players overall and three players average a season double-double during the 2000s. The 2000s list includes Lawrence Roberts (16.9 PPG, 10.1 RPG in 2003-04; 16.9 PPG, 11.0 RPG in 2004-05), Jarvis Varnado (13.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG in 2009-10) and Arnett Moultrie (16.4 PPG, 10.5 RPG) in 2011-12).

4. Tyson Carter has improved his points, rebounds, assists and steals average over his first three seasons at Mississippi State. The senior guard ranks inside the league's leaders in free throw percentage (85.7 – 4th) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7 – 6th). Carter has regained his form and dialed up 10-plus points in seven of his last nine games since the Missouri game on 01/14 when coming off the bench. He has piled up 108 of MSU's 149 bench points (72.5 percent) during that span. The Bulldogs are 37-11 since the start of 2017-18 when Carter scores 10 points or more and have won eight of 11 games when the Starkville native reaches the 20-point plateau.

Carter heads into Saturday's game with 1,231 career points and has passed his father, Greg Carter, on the MSU scoring list during the Missouri game on 01/14. The Carter's are the SEC's only father-son tandem to score over 1,000 points apiece. Tyson's 1,231 points now rank tied for 24th in program history, and he's one point shy of passing Erick Dampier (1994-95-96). He also is fourth among SEC active players behind Ole Miss' Breein Tyree, LSU's Skylar Mays and Tennessee's Jordan Bowden. Carter has canned 202 treys which is tops among SEC active players. He moved into fifth place on the MSU's list at Oklahoma on 01/25.

5. Nick Weatherspoon has been a welcomed addition back to the starting lineup where he has posted 11.7 points and 4.4 assists per game … He has started in 73 of 74 career games and secured double digit points in 11 of his 14 appearances sparked by a 21-point effort versus Vanderbilt on 02/08 and a 20-point performance at Alabama on 01/08 … Mississippi State has won eight of 10 games during Weatherspoon's career when he has dished out five or more assists … His 5.0 APG are 3rd, while his 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio is 2nd against SEC opponents on the league leaderboard … The Canton native has distributed 44 assists against 19 turnovers over his last eight games … Weatherspoon filled the box score 11 points coupled with career-bests of nine assists and eight rebounds during the Tennessee game on 02/01.

Abdul Ado became the 36th player in program history to surpass 500 career rebounds at Florida on 01/28 … He enters Saturday's action in 30th place on the MSU's all-time list and his 6.8 rebounds are 12th on the SEC list … Ado has a pair of double-doubles in 2019-20: the last was 12 points and 12 rebounds at LSU on 01/11 … His season's bests are 17 points and 12 rebounds against Radford on 12/18 … Ado has been rated among the SEC's best shot blockers during each of the last three seasons … His 1.8 blocks per game in 2019-20 are good enough for 4th place on the SEC leaderboard … Ado has racked up 166 career blocks over 91 career games and has climbed to sixth place on MSU's all-time list … His 1.82 career BPG are third in program history only behind legendary shot blockers Jarvis Varnado (2007-08-09-10) and Erick Dampier (1994-95-96).

Robert Woodard II has provided 11.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game on the season … The 7.1 RPG are 9th whereas his 1.3 SPG are just outside the SEC's top 10 … Woodard II and Perry possess two of the SEC's four 20-plus point, 15-plus rebound games this season, Florida's Kerry Blackshear Jr. and Georgia's Anthony Edwards have the other two … Woodard II has already collected double figures in 15 games which is second on the team only behind Reggie Perry … He has registered 10-plus points in five of six, six of his last eight and 11 of his last 16 outings after having three games of 10-plus during the entire 2018-19 season … Woodard II has a trio of double-doubles on the season: the last was 12 points and 12 rebounds against No. 8 Auburn on 01/04.

Iverson Molinar and D.J. Stewart Jr. have teamed for 17 games of 10-plus points during their freshman season … The Carter-Molinar-Stewart Jr. trio has accounted for 279 of the team's 364 bench points (76.5 percent) when coming off the bench … The Bulldogs are 9-3 this season when Stewart Jr. secures 10-plus points … Stewart Jr. has started MSU's last nine games and upped his averages to 12.6 PPG and 4.0 RPG over his last seven games (01/22-02/11) … He has amassed four of his top 5 scoring performances over that span … Stewart Jr. exploded for a season's best 20 points aided by 16 points on four treys during the second half versus Tennessee on 02/01 … Molinar provided a SEC career-high eight points during the Arkansas game on 01/22 … Molinar's season-high is 21 points aided by four treys against Tulane on 11/21 … KeyShawn Feazell and Prince Oduro round out to MSU's rotation … Oduro's season-high is six points against Tulane on 11/21 and at Coastal Carolina on 11/24, while Feazell secured nine points versus New Orleans on 11/17.

KNOW YOUR OPPONENT
The Razorbacks have dropped three straight and four of their last six decisions since the matchup with Mississippi State on 01/22. Arkansas has played the last three contests without second leading scorer Isaiah Joe (16.0 PPG) who has drained a team-leading 76 treys on the season.

Mason Jones (20.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.7 SPG) has amassed double figures in 19 of 23 games headed by seven of his last eight outings. He has ripped off three of his five 30-plus point performances versus SEC opponents which included three consecutive with 34 against South Carolina on 01/29, 30 at Alabama on 02/01 and 40 versus Auburn on 02/04. Jones has fired in 25.0 PPG in his last two meetings with Mississippi State.

Jimmy Whitt Jr. (14.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.4 SPG) has compiled 10-plus points in 10 of his last 12 appearances fueled by five efforts of 20 or more points. All 145 of Whitt Jr's field goals have come from two-point territory. He joined Jones' with a team-leading 20 points versus the Bulldogs in Starkville.

Desi Sills (9.9 PPG, 1.2 SPG) has upped his scoring mark to 12.3 PPG in Joe's absence over his last three games. He tallied a SEC season's best with 14 points during the Auburn game on 02/04.

Adrio Bailey (6.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 1.4 BPG), Reggie Chaney (5.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG) and Jalen Harris (4.6 PPG, 2.5 APG) round out the Arkansas rotation. Chaney has been inserted into the starting five during the last six games. He posted his first double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds at Missouri on 02/08.

UP NEXT
Mississippi State heads into the final third of its conference slate and welcomes South Carolina to Humphrey Coliseum on Wednesday. Tip time is set for 8 p.m. CT. The game will be televised by the SEC Network and carried online courtesy of the Watch ESPN platform.

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.

Mississippi State Men's Basketball Media Session
February 14, 2020

Head Coach Ben Howland
Q: How has the team responded in practice since the Ole Miss game?
BH: "We took the next day off after the game as is required. We have to take one day off a week. They came back and did a really good job yesterday. Obviously, everyone was disappointed in how we played and how we performed. We're going to put that one behind us, move on to the next game and not let that game beat us twice."

Q: For so much of the season, your team has been a second half team. Why do you think that wasn't the case Tuesday night in Oxford?
BH: "I thought that when we got the lead – I don't remember us having that kind of lead recently [in the first half] since the Georgia or Missouri game. We might have had a double-digit lead in the first 10 minutes, I can't say for sure. It seems like it's been so long ago."

"I thought we didn't handle that well. We relaxed a little bit instead of keeping our foot on the throttle. We took a couple of questionable shots rather than grinded it out for the next possessions. I thought early in the game that we did a great job of that. When I went back and watched the second half, I thought our defense was really lacking. Everything starts and ends with your defense. If you're not getting stops, you can't get out in transition. Everything has got to start and end there."

Q: It's been about three weeks since you've played Arkansas, are they any different now having to play without Isaiah Joe or have they done anything differently?
BH: "They're a little different in the fact that they're playing bigger. With Isaiah Joe, they were playing those four guards a lot and playing really small. With him out, they're playing bigger than they were before. They're still play with four guards. They'll probably do that at least half the game, but it's not like it was before where typically it was almost all the game."

Q: How much do you talk big picture with your team?
BH: "Sure, obviously, we've got to finish the year strong to have the opportunity to get in the NCAA Tournament. We talked about that yesterday before practice."

Q: How was Abdul [Ado] feeling the other night with his shoulder?
BH: "Good. I think he's fine. When you look at the plus-minus [from the Ole Miss game], when he was in the game, the game was even. When he was out of the game, we lost by 25. I guess he makes a big difference."

Q: After the Vanderbilt game last Saturday, you said you wanted to integrate the bench more. How do you hope to do that?
BH: "I definitely have got to try and get Iverson [Molinar] more minutes. I think that's one of the keys here moving forward down the stretch. I've got to get him more minutes. Potentially, KeyShawn [Feazell] or Prince [Oduro], as well."

"Iverson needs to so we can lighten the load. I'm playing Robert [Woodard II], DJ [Stewart Jr.], and Reggie [Perry] too many minutes. It's something that I think will help them. I talked to them about it yesterday. You'll definitely see Iverson playing longer stretches this year in these next seven games. I'm going to try spread and manage the minutes a little better."