2017 SEC Tournament recap: Mississippi State bests LSU

Mississippi State overcame a hot start from LSU to run away with a 79-52 victory in the opening game of the SEC Tournament.

After LSU opened up a 8-2 lead in the game’s first five minutes, Mississippi State dominated as Quinndary Weatherspoon led the Bulldogs with 19 points. Tyson Carter sparked Mississippi State off the bench with 13 first half points. For the game, Carter finished with 18 points, the second highest output of the season for the freshman.

As a team, the Bulldogs got 51 points from their bench as, in addition to Carter, Xavian Stapleton and Lamar Peters both chipped in double digits.

News broke on Tuesday that Johnny Jones would not be retained after the season by LSU and, as the game started, it looked like his players were responding with a strong performance to extend their coach’s tenure by at least a night.

After holding Mississippi State without a field goal for five minutes while forcing five turnovers, the wheels came off for LSU. The Tigers then went for nearly six minutes without a made field goal and finished the game with 20 turnovers. As a team, they shot only 33 percent and hit on only one of 22 three point attempts. Freshman Skyler Mays paced the Tigers with 13 points while Antonio Blakeney chipped in 11 points and five rebounds.

Mississippi State moves onto face Alabama Thursday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. ET.