Nashville, TN – The Vanderbilt Commodores will try to stay ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs tonight at Memorial Gym.
This will be the 119th encounter between Vandy and Mississippi State . The Commodores hold a 74-44 edge in the all-time series after sweeping the season series last season. Tonight's bout will feature four of the top five scorers in the SEC.
Mississippi State comes into tonight with a 15-4 overall record after a 75-68 loss to its rival Ole Miss. The Bulldogs had a poor performance in the contest with the Rebels, as they shot 37.7 percent from the field and allowed Ole Miss to connect on 50 percent of its field goals. Head coach Rick Stansbury's team came into SEC play on a roll, but has gone 2-2 in the league so far. Mississippi State is outscoring its opponents by an average of 8.8 ppg, while it is ranked second in the SEC in assist to turnover ratio.
Arnett Moultrie and Dee Bost lead the way for the Bulldogs. Moultrie is fourth in the conference in scoring (16.1 ppg) and first in rebounding (11.0 rpg). The junior forward recorded his tied for SEC best 10th double-double his last time out with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Bost is second on the team in scoring wically puts forth such lackluster efforts, particularly against a bitter rival in a pivotal conference clash, Michigan State is averaging 75.7 ppg this season in hitting 47.8 percent of its field goal attempts and a shade under 37 percent of its long-range tries. As has been the case in nearly every season coach Tom Izzo has been at the helm, the Spartans dominate the glass (+10.2 rpg). They have also been pretty stingy when it comes to allowing the opposition open looks at the basket, as foes are shooting just 38.6 percent from the floor, which includes a 30.1 percent showing from beyond the arc. Draymond Green (15.4 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.4 apg) and Appling (12.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.9 apg) have been the team's most productive players this season.
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