Mississippi State routs UTM

Starkville, MS – Dee Bost and Rodney Hood each scored 17 to-wire in a 76-50 drubbing of Martin.

Wendell Lewis added 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Deville Smith chipped in 15 points for the 2K Sports Classic-champion Bulldogs (6-1), who shot 59 percent in the blowout win.

Dane Smith checked in with 17 points for the Skyhawks (1-5), losers of two in a row since their lone win against Rochester College.

Mississippi State never trailed, leading by as many as 13 in the first half before pulling away for good in the early stages of the second.

The Bulldogs led 35-24 at the break, then embarked on a 12-2 run that Smith capped with a three-pointer to push the margin to 53-33 six minutes in.

A Smith layup put the finishing touches on a 13-2 spurt a little later for a 70-41 cushion, and the hosts held on easily over the final five minutes.

Game Notes

Mississippi State leads the all-time series, 7-1...The Bulldogs' Renardo Sidney (wrist) and Arnett Moultrie (knee) both sat out for the second straight game...Myles Taylor scored 12 points for the Skyhawks, who made just 38 percent of their shots...The Bulldogs scored 22 points off turnovers, compared to just six for UT-Martin.