Wednesday, January 12
Starkville
6:00 PM
Mississippi State
11-4,2-1SEC
88
vs
72
Georgia
5-11,0-3SEC
1
2
F
Georgia
36
36
72
Mississippi St.
35
53
88
Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics
Second Half Surge Lifts State Past Georgia
January 12, 2022 | Men's Basketball
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State went into its locker room trailing Georgia by one point at halftime.
A little over an hour later, that same locker room was a celebratory scene after MSU poured in 53 second half points to earn an 88-72 victory over their Bulldog counterparts and improve to 2-0 at home in Southeastern Conference play.
"I feel like we were just steadily breaking them down, breaking them down," said sophomore forward Cameron Matthews. "I feel like in that second half we just kind of broke it open and started making shots."
Iverson Molinar was a vital part in State's victory, scoring a career-high 28 points and tying his career-high with seven assists. Molinar was 11 of 18 from the field and only turned the ball over once in 33 minutes of play.
"I have been working on my game for the longest," Molinar said. "Only having one turnover and being able to score like that and actually having three rebounds, I feel good. I was able to make plays for others and make my things easier for my team on the offensive end and being aggressive."
It was the 12th time Molinar has eclipsed the 20-point plateau in his career and the third time he has done so with five or more assists.
"That's the Iverson I expect to see the rest of the year," said head coach Ben Howland.
Molinar also received huge contributions from his supporting cast as well. Mississippi State was without the services of double-double machine Tolu Smith for the second game in a row but had a trio of players help shoulder the rebounding and scoring load.
Matthews, Javian Davis and Andersson Garcia all reached double figures in scoring and combined for 14 rebounds.
"That should tell you how talented this team is," Molinar said. "We're missing a big piece down there and are still getting contributions. We still look comfortable out there playing for each other. And once we add that piece back, we're even going to be scarier."
Davis totaled 12 points, six boards and added a pair of steals in 18 minutes off the bench.
"J.D. got 12 points for us tonight and that was huge," Howland said. "He really stepped up huge in that spot and gave us great minutes."
It was only the second time Davis has scored in double figures this season and marked his SEC high during his tenure in Starkville.
"It seemed like everything was working well," Davis said. "Coach had a good game plan and I was just trying to be myself. Obviously with Tolu not in (the lineup), that makes me want to be more aggressive."
Matthews joined the starting lineup in Smith's absence and shot 5 of 6 from the floor, grabbed four rebounds, dished out four assists to go along with three steals and a pair of blocks.
It was also his second double digit scoring effort of the season and first in league play.
"My mindset was to be the spark bring the toughness and do all the little things that we needed," Matthews said.
Garcia made his minutes matter off the bench as well. The sophomore made all four of his shots from the field and snagged four boards in 13 minutes and finished with a career-high 10 points.
"The thing that I like to do the most is bring the energy," Garcia said. "I bring the juice."
In all, the bench provided Mississippi State with 31 points. MSU shot 52.9 percent from the field (60 percent in the second half), scored 58 of its points in the paint and only committed eight turnovers in the contest.
State continues its homestand against No. 24 Alabama on Saturday at 5 p.m. on SEC Network.
A little over an hour later, that same locker room was a celebratory scene after MSU poured in 53 second half points to earn an 88-72 victory over their Bulldog counterparts and improve to 2-0 at home in Southeastern Conference play.
"I feel like we were just steadily breaking them down, breaking them down," said sophomore forward Cameron Matthews. "I feel like in that second half we just kind of broke it open and started making shots."
Iverson Molinar was a vital part in State's victory, scoring a career-high 28 points and tying his career-high with seven assists. Molinar was 11 of 18 from the field and only turned the ball over once in 33 minutes of play.
"I have been working on my game for the longest," Molinar said. "Only having one turnover and being able to score like that and actually having three rebounds, I feel good. I was able to make plays for others and make my things easier for my team on the offensive end and being aggressive."
It was the 12th time Molinar has eclipsed the 20-point plateau in his career and the third time he has done so with five or more assists.
"That's the Iverson I expect to see the rest of the year," said head coach Ben Howland.
Molinar also received huge contributions from his supporting cast as well. Mississippi State was without the services of double-double machine Tolu Smith for the second game in a row but had a trio of players help shoulder the rebounding and scoring load.
Matthews, Javian Davis and Andersson Garcia all reached double figures in scoring and combined for 14 rebounds.
"That should tell you how talented this team is," Molinar said. "We're missing a big piece down there and are still getting contributions. We still look comfortable out there playing for each other. And once we add that piece back, we're even going to be scarier."
Davis totaled 12 points, six boards and added a pair of steals in 18 minutes off the bench.
"J.D. got 12 points for us tonight and that was huge," Howland said. "He really stepped up huge in that spot and gave us great minutes."
It was only the second time Davis has scored in double figures this season and marked his SEC high during his tenure in Starkville.
"It seemed like everything was working well," Davis said. "Coach had a good game plan and I was just trying to be myself. Obviously with Tolu not in (the lineup), that makes me want to be more aggressive."
Matthews joined the starting lineup in Smith's absence and shot 5 of 6 from the floor, grabbed four rebounds, dished out four assists to go along with three steals and a pair of blocks.
It was also his second double digit scoring effort of the season and first in league play.
"My mindset was to be the spark bring the toughness and do all the little things that we needed," Matthews said.
Garcia made his minutes matter off the bench as well. The sophomore made all four of his shots from the field and snagged four boards in 13 minutes and finished with a career-high 10 points.
"The thing that I like to do the most is bring the energy," Garcia said. "I bring the juice."
In all, the bench provided Mississippi State with 31 points. MSU shot 52.9 percent from the field (60 percent in the second half), scored 58 of its points in the paint and only committed eight turnovers in the contest.
State continues its homestand against No. 24 Alabama on Saturday at 5 p.m. on SEC Network.
Team Stats
UGa
MSU
FG%
.418
.529
3FG%
.300
.278
FT%
.800
.600
RB
37
35
TO
15
8
STL
4
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
28
FGM
11
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
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