D.J. Stewart Jr. scored 24 points and Mississippi State overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to roll past No. 13 Missouri, 78-63.
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — DJ Stewart scored 24 points and Mississippi State overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to roll past No. 13 Missouri 78-63 on Tuesday night.
Mississippi State trailed by 14 points early in the second half before taking the lead with a 15-0 run and then pulling away with a 21-4 burst.
Iverson Molinar added 20 points for the Bulldogs (7-4, 2-1 Southeastern Conference). Tolu Smith had 15 points and nine rebounds.
Jeremiah Tilmon led Missouri (7-2, 1-2) with 16 points. Xavier Pinson scored 13 points and Dru Smith had 11.
Mississippi State trailed 43-29 early in the second half before Stewart’s jumper with 13:07 remaining capped the 15-0 run and put the Bulldogs ahead by one. The Tigers pushed back ahead 50-48, but a three-point play from Stewart gave Mississippi State the lead for good and the Bulldogs quickly stretched the advantage to 69-54.
Missouri led 39-27 at halftime.
Mississippi State shot 35% from the field in the opening 20 minutes. The Bulldogs had eight first-half turnovers and Missouri outscored the Bulldogs 15-2 in points off turnovers.
BIG PICTURE
Missouri: The Tigers have lost nine of their last ten meetings with Mississippi State.
Mississippi State: The Bulldogs bounced back nicely after a double-overtime loss to Kentucky last Saturday.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
The Tigers are certain to fall in the next AP poll, and the Bulldogs could get a look from voters.
UP NEXT
Missouri: Opens a two-game homestand Saturday against LSU.
Mississippi State: At Vanderbilt on Saturday.