National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Mississippi St. 68, South Carolina 58
When: 2:30 PM ET, Saturday, February 27, 2016
Where: Humphrey Coliseum, Starkville, Mississippi
Officials: # Tony Henderson, # Karl Hess, # Brian Shey
Attendance: 7488

Mississippi State scored the first five points of the game and never looked back to score a 68-58 win over South Carolina on Saturday afternoon at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Miss.

Forward Gavin Ware recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs (13-15, 6-10 SEC). The Bulldogs have now won three straight.

Guard Sindarius Thornwell scored 12 and guard Duane Notice 10 points to lead the Gamecocks (23-6, 10-6).

Senior forward Michael Carrera who came into the game averaging 14.8 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game was held to six points and eight rebounds by coach Ben Howland's tenacious defense. Carrera had recorded four straight double-doubles.

Ten minutes into the game, the Bulldogs had opened an 11-point lead on guard Craig Sword's jumper. At 8:42, guard Quinndary Weatherspoon's layup put the Bulldogs up 25-9.

Mississippi State shot 55.6 percent from the field, including connecting on five of 12 from 3-point range in the first half.

The Gamecocks went nine of 30 and committed 10 first-half turnovers.

South Carolina did not fare much better in the second half

Forward Laimonas Chatkevicius's old-fashioned three sliced the lead to 11 with eight minutes, but never seriously threatened.

Weatherspoon and Sword each added 14 points for the Bulldogs.
Top Game Performances
 
South Carolina   Mississippi St.
Sindarius Thornwell 12 Scoring Gavin Ware 16
PJ Dozier 4 Assists I.J. Ready 5
Michael Carrera 8 Rebounds Gavin Ware 12
Michael Carrera 3 Free Throws Made Craig Sword 4
Sindarius Thornwell 4 Steals I.J. Ready 5
Michael Carrera 1 Blocks Travis Daniels 4
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
South Carolina 58 36.7 6-19 8-12 7 37 3 7 21
Mississippi St. 68 45.5 8-22 10-19 20 33 5 13 15