MSU clicks on all cylinders to blow out Arkansas

STARKVILLE – Everything finally clicked.

With two minutes remaining, Ben Howland cleared his bench. Mississippi State’s walk-ons took the court for the first time in Southeastern Conference play.

The eight players that logged the majority of minutes Tuesday night deserved the standing ovation the crowd at Humphrey Coliseum awarded them. Mississippi State blew out the Razorbacks 78-46.

"Everybody just was on one page," Gavin Ware said.

Quinndary Weatherspoon led Mississippi State with a double-double. Ware dominated inside. Fred Thomas stroked it from the outside. I.J. Ready worked as the team’s floor general. Travis Daniels and Aric Holman protected the rim. Craig Sword stuffed the stat sheet. Malik Newman shored up the perimeter defense.

Mississippi State opened the game with its best half of the season.

Arkansas took a 10-9 lead with 14:17 remaining in the half. MSU responded making 14 of its final 21 in the first half to lead 42-20 at halftime. It shot 60 percent in the first half behind 11 assists on 18 field goals. The point-total matched the most Mississippi State scored in the first half this season against SEC teams.

"That was obviously our best game of the year," Howland said. "I was really impressed with our effort defensively."

Mississippi State recorded four blocks, three steals, took a couple charges and forced a shot clock violation in the first half. The Razorbacks averaged 81 points per game while shooting 46 percent from the field this season. MSU (10-13, 3-8) limited Arkansas to a season low in points by 20.

The Razorbacks went scoreless for more than five minutes at one point in the first half. Arkansas (12-12, 5-6) made 16 3-pointers when the two teams met in Fayetteville last month. The Razorbacks made one 3 in Starkville.

"I took it personal from the last time we played them," Weatherspoon said. "They hit so many 3s on us. I wanted to come out and try to keep the ball out of their hands."

Weatherspoon paced the team with 12 points in the first 20 minutes. He finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds.  Ready returned to the court after missing last Saturday’s game with a back injury. He had six points and four assists coming off the bench in the first half. He finished with six points and six assists.

Ware recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 21 points and and 10 rebounds. He was one of three Bulldogs to finish with 10 boards.

"We got more production by playing guys less minutes," Howland said. "That's something I have to learn from as we move forward."

Seven Bulldogs finished with at least five points, a rebound and an assist or blocked shot, with the exception of Newman. The freshman scored six points.

Fred Thomas scored eight to eclipse 1,000 points in his career. Holman and Daniels combined for 10 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and four blocks.

The performances led to MSU's first 30-point win since 2005.

"I'm excited about the progress we made today," Howland said. "We've gotta build on this now. It doesn't mean anything unless we build on it."

Contact Michael Bonner at mbonner@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @MikeBBonner on Twitter.