National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Mississippi St. 76, Appalachian St. 74
When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, November 19, 2010
Where: Humphrey Coliseum, Starkville, Mississippi
Officials: # James Barker, # Mike Nance, # Mike Stuart
Attendance: 5794

Jalen Steele hit a go-ahead jumper with 30 seconds to play, and host Mississippi State withstood a 40-point outburst from Appalachian State's Donald Sims to earn a 76-74 win at Humphrey Coliseum.

Kodi Augustus scored a team-high 24 points and Ravern Johnson added 19 for the Bulldogs (2-0), who saw Sims and the Mountaineers erase an 11-point halftime deficit. Appalachian State (2-1) even managed to build a 71-64 lead before the hosts rallied themselves, and Sims misfired on what would have been a go-ahead 3 in the closing seconds.

The sharp shooting from Augustus and Johnson in the first half, when they combined for 26 points and 5-for-7 3-point shooting, boosted the Bulldogs to a 43-32 halftime lead. Brian Bryant had made all three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point try to pull MSU within 74-73 with 30 seconds to play.

Mississippi State opened with a 75-65 home victory over Tennessee State, and the Bulldogs are without projected starters Renardo Sidney and Dee Bost, out because of NCAA suspensions.

Appalachian State started 2-0 for new coach Jason Capel, though the Mountaineers beat NAIA school Montreat College their last time out.
Top Game Performances
 
Appalachian St.   Mississippi St.
Donald Sims 40 Scoring Kodi Augustus 26
Donald Sims 5 Assists Twany Beckham 7
Nathan Healy 9 Rebounds Kodi Augustus 10
Donald Sims 11 Free Throws Made Kodi Augustus 7
Donald Sims 3 Steals Twany Beckham 2
Nathan Healy 1 Blocks Kodi Augustus 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Appalachian St. 74 37.3 9-31 15-24 12 40 1 7
Mississippi St. 76 43.9 8-22 18-29 14 38 4 5