STARKVILLE — A few days after playing one of his worst games of the season, Mississippi State’s Reggie Perry put the Bulldogs on his back.
The sophomore forward lifted MSU (15-8, 6-4 SEC) out of yet another halftime deficit with a quick 12 points five minutes into the second half and finished with a game-high 25 points and 11 rebounds in his team’s 80-70 win over Vanderbilt (9-14, 1-9) Saturday at Humphrey Coliseum. Perry, a 6-foot-10 SEC Player of the Year candidate, is also morphing into a big man whom the Bulldogs trust to take technical foul free throws, as he shot a dependable 8 of 9 from the line.
“Coach Howland wanted us to keep the ball moving and getting the ball to the high post,” Perry said. “Early in the game, we made good back cuts, and I think I did a decent job delivering the ball. I just have to cut down on the turnovers.”
Perry finished 7 of 10 from the floor and 3 of 5 from 3-point range while chipping in six assists and four blocks.
“Reggie had a tremendous all-around game,” MSU coach Ben Howland said. “His 3s were big … he was very efficient from the field. He’s doing a tremendous job, and I thought his defense was good tonight.”
In the opening minutes, Vanderbilt tried to tilt Perry off balance by double-teaming him, albeit with little success after he scored 10 first-half points and collected five rebounds.
Nevertheless, for the fifth straight game, MSU found itself staring at a deficit entering the second half. MSU’s energy seemed to disappear in the waning minutes of the opening half as Vanderbilt closed the period on a 12-2 en route to leading 35-31 at the break.
But as has often been the case in SEC play, the Bulldogs owned the second half. MSU dominated Vanderbilt from the start, retaking the lead thanks to a 14-2 run.
“Being down at halftime was tough again,” Howland said. “Especially since we had an eight-point lead. I think we have to do a better job protecting that.”
The Commodores trailed by as many as 16 in the second half and trimmed the deficit to six points with 1 minute, 30 seconds remaining, but a driving and-one layup by Tyson Carter sealed the victory.
Carter finished with 16 points off the bench, while Nick Weatherspoon played Robin to Perry’s Batman with a season-high 21 points and six rebounds while making 8 of 9 shots.
“I don’t like coming from behind, but it makes us come out harder,” Weatherspoon said of trailing after the first half. “But that’s just how things go.”
MSU starting center Abdul Ado suffered a shoulder injury late in the game, causing him to leave the contest and he did not return. Howland said he’s optimistic the injury is not serious long term.
“Our team doctor checked out his shoulder and said it’s stable,” Howland said. “He thinks he’ll be sore for the next day or two, but we’re anticipating he’ll be OK.”
The Bulldogs shot 52.8 percent from the floor and held the Commodores to 6 of 24 from beyond the arc. Saben Lee led Vanderbilt with 20 points.
MSU is back in action at 6 p.m. Tuesday against Ole Miss in Oxford.
Dawg notes: At halftime, Mississippi State honored members of the 1995 Sweet 16 and 1996 NCAA Final Four teams.
“I think it’s really special,” Howland said Friday. “I always love that. I think it’s so fun for those players that return. I think it’s the best team in the history of the program of this university for men’s basketball. I’ve met a number of those guys, but I always think it is something special. I really like that our players get a chance to meet them. Not only did they go to the Final Four, the year before they went to the Sweet 16. That was the best two years in the history of the program. It’s always fun to honor them and have them come back. They continue to see the program they help establish and build.”
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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