By Hunt Palmer
THE STORY: All season long, LSU has gone as Cam Carter has gone.
Saturday in Starkville was no exception. Carter sizzled out of the gate, dropping 18 points in the first half. The Tigers led by two at the break. Carter cooled after halftime, and LSU’s offense ground to a halt.
Josh Hubbard and the homestand Bulldogs put it into overdrive and left LSU in the dust, 81-69.
LSU’s defense has been fairly steady all season. Mississippi State methodically dissected it all afternoon, especially after halftime.
State shot 57 percent for the game and a surgical 64 percent in the second half. Hubbard led the charge with 20 after halftime and 30 in the game. That’s the fourth time in his career that Hubbard has reached the 30 point mark. He also did it in Baton Rouge last February.
The Tigers continued to take care of the ball and appeared to do a good job on the defensive glass. Mississippi State only had eight offensive rebounds that led to nine points. Of course, when you make better than half your shots, there aren’t many offensive rebounds to be had.
State started to take control with 3:44 left in the first half. Riley Kugel’s three cut LSU’s lead from four to one. That was the first of 10 straight makes for the Bulldogs through the 13:56 mark in the second half. That’s nine minutes and 48 seconds of game time without a miss. After that flamethrower, State had a three point lead it never relinquished.
The win cements Mississippi State’s spot in the Field of 68 later this month. LSU drops to 3-13 in league play with a trip to Kentucky and a home game against Texas A&M to come.
THE STATS: Before halftime, Carter was 7-for-9 from the floor and 4-for-6 from three. He had 18 of LSU’s 37 points. After halftime, Carter was just 2-for-7 from the floor and 1-for-4 from the three. He scored five points, and LSU scored 32.
Outside of Carter, LSU shot 16-for-48 for 33 percent. The rest of the Tigers were 4-for-26 (15%) from three.
LSU lost paint points 40-22.
Mississippi State blocked seven LSU shots. LSU did not have a block.
Mississippi State outscored LSU 18-3 in transition.
Former Bulldog Derek Fountain made all four of his shots and grabbed five rebounds in 24 minutes.
Vyctorius Miller and Curtis Givens combined to miss all six of their shots, all threes, and turned the ball over three times.
