STARKVILLE, Miss. – Tolu Smith III recorded a game-high tying 16 points in his first action of the 2023-24 campaign for Mississippi State as the Bulldogs defeated visiting Bethune-Cookman, 85-62 inside Humphrey Coliseum on Sunday afternoon. The game was the final regular season nonconference game of the season for both teams.
 
Despite trailing 41-22 at the half, Bethune-Cookman (5-8) was able to register 40 second half points. BCU shot 51.5 percent from the field in the second half as the Cats connected on 17 shots total from the field.
 
A total of three Wildcats touched double-digit scoring in the second period, led by the efforts of Derrick Carter-Hollinger Jr. with 11 points. The San Diego, California native shot 5-for-7 from the field in the second half, including a three-pointer. Jakobi Heady added 10 points for the Maroon and Gold as he connected on 5 of 9 shooting from the floor.
 
Mississippi State (11-2) went on an 8-2 run to start the second half in order to push the Bulldogs lead out to 49-28 following a three-pointer from point guard Shakeel Moore – added a driving layup to the hole from D.J. Jeffries.
 
A Carter-Hollinger Jr. jumper off a fastbreak cut the BCU deficit at 64-42 with 7:56 remaining in the contest.
 
But it would be the hosts using back-to-back three-pointers from Josh Hubbard and Trey Fort to extend the lead at 73-44 less than a minute later.
 
Wildcats guard Zion Harmon opened the game with a three-pointer stemming off a Bulldogs turnover to give BCU the early 3-0 lead. However, the Bulldogs answered in kind with a 14-1 run as Cameron Matthews and Shawn Jones Jr. each hitters jumpers, while teammate Dashawn Davis connected on one of his two (2) three-pointers of the afternoon to give MSU a 14-4 edge.
 
A Heady jumper just inside the paint cut the lead at 25-18 with 6:03 showing on the first half clock, as the Wildcats were in the midst of a run that saw buckets from Dhashon Dyson and Yousouf Timera bring the visitors to within single digits. MSU would convert consecutive three-point plays at the foul line through Moore and Smith to push the lead to just below 20 at the interval.
 
The Bulldogs shot 58.3 percent in the opening period, using a strong bench presence to outscore the Cats 23-4 in that area. But it would be Bethune-Cookman scoring 11 first half points off seven MSU turnovers.
 
Mississippi State was led in scoring by Smith with 16 points and nine rebounds, returning from an injury that kept him out the first 12 games of the season. Davis proved significant with 12 points, assisted in scoring by Hubbard (11) and Moore (10). Matthews led all MSU players with six assists and six steals, respectfully.
 
Bethune-Cookman was led in scoring by Heady's 16-point, six-rebound effort, adding three assists and a blocked shot. Dyson contributed 14 points, while Carter-Hollinger Jr. added 12 points of his own.
 
The Wildcats now turn their attention to Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play next weekend when playing hoist to Florida A&M at Richard V. Moore Gymnasium on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 4 p.m. The game serves as the league opener for both sides, respectively.
 
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