Game Breakdown: MSU looking to go streaking

Mississippi State (2-3) vs. Tennessee-Martin (2-4)

Time: Noon  

TV: SEC Network+

Where: Humphrey Coliseum

Mississippi State starters

G Malik Newman (13.0 ppg, 2.3 apg)

G I.J. Ready (13.4 ppg, 5.8 apg)

G Craig Sword (12.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg)

F Travis Daniels (9.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg)

F Gavin Ware (19.8 ppg, 6.8 rbg)

Tennesse-Martin starters

G Alex Anderson (13.8 ppg, 1.8 apg)

G Jacolby Mobley (10.2 ppg, 1.7 apg)

G/F Kedar Edwards (8.5 ppg, 5.5 rbg)

F Twymond Howard (12.3 pgg, 6.0 rpg)

F Chandler Rowe (5.3 ppg, 3.0 rbg)

Last game: Mississippi State won 84-70 against Missouri State in Puerto Rico last Sunday. The win snapped a three-game losing streak. Gavin Ware led four Bulldogs in double figures with 25 points.  The senior became the 35th player in MSU history to score 1,000 career points.

What’s at stake: A win allows Mississippi State to finish November with a .500 record and its first winning streak of the season. The Bulldogs return to the court after a six-day layoff. Ben Howland has highlighted the importance of more practice time. The first-year MSU coach got it this week.    

Who are these guys? Tennessee Martin started the season with a four-game losing streak. It enters Saturday’s matchup with MSU winning its last two games. The Skyhawks average 70.8 points per game this year, but scored at least 78 in their two wins.

KenPom.com prediction: Mississippi State 82-71. Mississippi State 85 percent chance of winning.

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