Mississippi State aims to keep points coming vs. Georgia State

Contrasting styles will be on display when high-scoring Mississippi State meets Georgia State, a team with a physical mentality, in Starkville, Miss., on Friday.Mississippi State overpowered visiting West Georgia 95-60 on Monday, while Georgia State opened by defeating Ball State 71-66 in Atlanta in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge.The Bulldogs made it a priority to improve their 3-point shooting in the offseason. After making only 32.2 percent from distance a season ago, they made 14 of 30 in the opener.All-SEC second-team selection Josh Hubbard picked up where he left off during his successful freshman season by scoring 26 points — including six 3-pointers — in the opener. Claudell Harris Jr., a transfer from Boston College, scored 20 in his debut.”We still have a long way to go, and we are just getting started,” said Mississippi State forward KeShawn Murphy. “We’re starting to figure out how to play as a team. I’m just excited to be here because it’s different from the previous years.”Georgia State showed its new inside-friendly philosophy in the opener, with three players — all transfers — producing double-doubles. Cesare Edwards (Missouri State) had 17 points and 11 rebounds, Zarique Nutter (Northern Illinois) had 16 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, and Nick McMullen (UNC-Asheville) had 10 points and 13 rebounds.

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