Jordan McRae posted his second career double-double as the Tennessee Vols (17-11, 8-7,) defeated the Mississippi State Bulldogs (13-15, 3-12) 75-68 in Starkville on Wednesday evening.
McRae collected 10 rebounds to go with his 29 points that led all scorers. Jarnell Stokes added 14 and nine boards while Jeronne Maymon contributed a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Tennessee needed its two bruisers down low in a game that was sloppy but tightly-contested.
“I thought it was a hard fought game from both teams,” Head Coach Cuonzo Martin said.
“When watching (Mississippi State) on film, you can’t look at their record because they compete and play hard. It’s amazing how when they get down in games how they can get themselves back in it. I was just trying to get our guys to understand that. We compete until the buzzer sounds because of the way they play and the way they compete.” — Cuonzo Martin
Though the Vols never trailed, Miss. State cut Tennessee’s lead to four with about 2 minutes remaining in the contest. McRae missed a 3-pointer, but Maymon collected a crucial offensive rebound, and McRae hit two free throws to make it a two-possession game with just under 1.5 minutes left. State never got any closer.
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Antonio Barton got the start at point guard for the Vols replacing freshman Darius Thompson as Tennessee’s continues to search for answers from the lead guard position. (Anybody heard from former Knox Central High School standout Dre Mathieu lately? No? Me either.) Barton contributed just four points on 1-6 shooting, including 0-4 from behind the arc.
As a team, Tennessee shot 39 percent from the floor, with Richardson and Barton combining to shoot 2-15 with one made 3-pointer on nine attempts.
On a more positive note, the Vols hit 17-20 from the free throw line, and though they had 11 turnovers total, they only gave the ball away twice after halftime. Armani Moore provided strong play off the bench totaling eight points, four rebounds and three steals.
It was Tennessee’s third road-game victory of the conference schedule pushing their record to 3-7 in SEC games away from Thompson-Boling Arena.
Vanderbilt comes to TBA on Saturday as the Vols look to even the season series with the Commodores. The game tips at noon.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]