Josh Hubbard scored 15 points to lead a balanced Mississippi State attack in a 101-66 win over Georgia State on Friday in Starkville, Miss.
Hubbard, named to the preseason watchlist for the Wooden Award, shot 6-for-11 from the field, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range, and added six rebounds and six assists in 25 minutes.
Mississippi State (2-0) had five players score in double figures. Riley Kugel put up 14 points, including two slams. Kanye Clary had 11 points and six assists. Claudell Harris Jr. logged 10 points, and RJ Melendez had 10 points and five rebounds.
The Bulldogs shot 61.8 percent in the first half, when they led by as many as 24 points. They finished at 58.3 percent, making 42 of 72 shots, including 10 of 28 3-point attempts (35.7 percent). Mississippi State scored 54 points in the paint and 30 points off the fastbreak.
Georgia State (1-1) got 15 points from preseason All-Sun Belt pick Toneari Lane, though he shot just 4-for-13 from the floor. Cesare Edwards added 13 points and six rebounds, Zarique Nutter had 11 points and Nick McMullen amassed 10 points and six rebounds.
Georgia State trailed 17-13 after Edwards scored in the paint near the midpoint of the first half. On the next trip down the floor, the Panthers were assessed a Flagrant 1 foul, which Mississippi State used to spark a 7-0 run.
The Bulldogs soon added an 8-0 surge, completed on back-to-back fastbreak buckets, for a 32-14 lead. Mississippi State led 47-25 at halftime.
Georgia State went on a 12-2 run to start the second half and cut the deficit to 49-37 with 16:27 left, forcing the Bulldogs to call timeout to regroup. Mississippi State then outscored Georgia State 13-2 to go up 62-39. The Panthers never got closer than 21 points the rest of the way.
Mississippi State hosts Southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday. Georgia State travels to Jacksonville State on Wednesday.
–Field Level Media
