STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Dashawn Davis made two clutch free throws with 5.6 seconds remaining and Tolu Smith had 15 points and eight rebounds to help No. 17 Mississippi State hold off Nicholls State 68-66 on Saturday.
Davis added 14 points and six assists for the Bulldogs (11-0), who are off to their best start since the 2003-04 season. Tyler Stevenson added 14 points, including 12 in the first half, for Mississippi State.
Latrell Jones led Nicholls State (5-6) with 15 points, while Marek Nelson and Micah Thomas each added 12. Pierce Spencer had a steal with two seconds remaining, but his 3-point try at the buzzer bounced in and out of the rim.
Mississippi State struggled offensively for most of the first half and did not register a field goal until the 14:39 mark of the first half. Capped off by a 3 pointer by Huffman, Nicholls State used a 10-1 run to grab a 20-12 advantage with 7:34 remaining in the first half.
Nicholls State led 30-27 at the break. The Bulldogs shot just 27% in the first half and had 11 turnovers.
BIG PICTURE
Nicholls State: Despite the loss, Nicholls State has won four of its last six games after a 1-4 start. That includes a win over Southeastern Louisiana earlier in the week in the Southland Conference opener.
Mississippi State: The Bulldogs are off to their best start since beginning the 2003-04 season with a 13-0 record. Mississippi State has one more nonconference game before starting SEC play on December 28th against No. 4 Alabama.
UP NEXT
Nicholls State: Hosts Trinity Baptist College on Monday.
Mississippi State: On Tuesday, faces Drake in a neutral setting at Lincoln, Nebraska.
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