STARKVILLE — The message from Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Rick Ray on Tuesday night was opposite from the one he gave in the offseason: Feed Gavin Ware.
In MSU’s first two victories, the sophomore center wasn’t getting the basketball enough deep in the post. That changed Tuesday, as Ware scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a 94-72 victory against Mississippi Valley State at Humphrey Coliseum.
Despite watching his team defeat Kennesaw State by 23 points five days earlier, Ray has been critical of his guards’ inability to get Ware, a 2013 All-Freshman team selection by the Southeastern Conference coaches, enough shots around the basket, so the second-year coach drew up a set play for his 6-foot-9 powerhouse.
MSU (3-0) solved that problem early and often, as Ware scored MSU’s first five points and seven of the team’s first 11 against a smaller lineup. The Delta Devils didn’t double the post, leaving a much smaller body to handle the 262-pound Ware one on one. The former Starkville High School standout had 13 points at halftime and went on to record his second double-double this season.
“It was one of the things the coaches stressed in pregame, so I just commend our guards on working with me in the post,” Ware said. “I believe it starts with them and not just my effort down in the post.”
Ware, who has struggled to control his weight since high school, arrived at MSU weighing more than 290 pounds. He has trimmed down to 262 pounds thanks to a commitment to identify what he can eat every day. He also has tried to cut out the late-night trips to Waffle House he used to make as a freshman. The changes have allowed Ware to be more active and have enabled him to match the number of double-doubles (two) he had in 32 games last season.
“We noticed it early on when he was 298 pounds,” Ray said. “That’s really good if you want to play offensive or defensive line for (MSU football coach) Dan Mullen but not so good if you want to play basketball. To Gavin’s credit, he did all those things. He controlled his diet and gets on the treadmill with (MSU strength coach) Richard Akins. If he has a bad night at the Waffle House, he’ll run that off the next morning.”
Colin Borchert had 14 points and Roquez Johnson added 12 off the bench to help MSU score 54 points in the paint.
“Roquez comes in and is playing with energy,” Ray said. “When Roquez comes off the bench, you always notice him because he’s on the ground and around the ball. As long as he stays active like that, he can help this basketball team.”
MVSU (1-3) has allowed an average of 100 points in losses to Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, and MSU.
For only the fifth time in 11 seasons, MSU has opened a season 3-0. Despite that fact, Ray wasn’t pleased MVSU had 17 field goals within two feet of the basket. Against a team with quick, slashing guards, MSU’s inability to get into the passing lanes and to play man-to-man defense with backside help contributed to MVSU getting 10 layups.
“We have to be a better individual defensive team because there’s always guys that can shoot the basketball,” Ray said. “If we’re always helping, we’re going to eventually get burned on a close out.”
MSU exploited MVSU’s inability to guard without fouling by getting into the bonus with more than 12 minutes remaining. The Bulldogs pulled away by converting 16 of 20 from the free-throw line.
MSU will travel 1,736 miles to Utah State (3-0) on Saturday to play a program that is dominant in its home arena. In the 11 years under coach Stew Morrill, Utah State has the fourth-highest winning percentage in the nation, behind only Duke, Kansas, and Gonzaga. Under Morrill, Utah State is 196-13 at home.
Junior College
n No. 11 East Mississippi Community College 75, Baton Rouge C.C. 65: At Baton Rouge, La., Devonta Pollard’s team-high 18 points paced a balanced attack Tuesday night that helped the No. 11 Lions improve to 3-0.
During a first half that featured six lead changes and six ties, the visitors led 35-33 at halftime. Following one more lead change and another deadlock, the Lions scored seven unanswered points to move ahead 45-39 on a Pollard dunk assisted by former high school teammate Nick Giles.
After a pair of BRCC free throws from Denzel Flemings at the 15-minute, 30-second mark, EMCC scored 10 straight points, including five from Pollard, to extend its lead to 55-41. With the margin staying at double figures for the most part the rest of the game, the closest the Bears were able to get would be eight points on three occasions over the final 12 minutes.
Pollard, a former McDonald’s All-American at Kemper County High School, also pulled down nine rebounds. Davon “Chuck” Ester had 10 points and a team-best 11 rebounds, while Avery Woodson had 11 points.
The EMCC basketball teams will jointly play host to Wallace State-Hanceville in a home hoops doubleheader Thursday night on the Scooba campus. A 5:30 p.m. women’s game will be followed by a 7:30 p.m. men’s game at EMCC’s Keyes T. Currie Coliseum.
Coach Sharon Thompson’s EMCC Lady Lions will bring a 3-2 record into the game after dropping a 72-48 home decision to No. 9 Shelton State on Monday in Scooba.
Follow Matt Stevens on Twitter @matthewcstevens.
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