Jeffery Taylor scored 25 points and John Jenkins added 21 as No. 22 Vanderbilt rallied for an 81-74 victory over host Mississippi State on Thursday.

The Commodores (15-4, 3-2 SEC), No. 22 in scoring in the nation entering the game, used a sizeable free throw advantage to subdue the Bulldogs (10-9, 2-3 SEC), who came in allowing a generous 70 points per game.

Jenkins, the SEC scoring leader, struggled from outside – making 2-of-7 attempts – but converted all nine of his free throw attempts as Vanderbilt finished 21 for 31 from the line.

The teams played a back-and-forth first half before Mississippi State used a 6-0 run to close the half and take a 37-31 lead into the break. The advantage grew to nine points on a Kodi Augustus jumper with 9:21 remaining before Vanderbilt stormed back, with Jenkins scoring nine points – seven on free throws – during a 17-3 run that put the Commodores ahead by five.

After the Bulldogs regained the lead on a pair of Ravern Johnson free throws with 3:34 left, Vanderbilt countered with six straight points, including consecutive layups by Lance Goulbourne and Festus Ezeli to go ahead for good.

Ezeli had 14 points while Goulbourne added nine points and 13 boards to help Vanderbilt finish with a 37-34 rebounding advantage as it won for the fourth time in five games.

Johnson led the way with 19 points for the Bulldogs, while Dee Bost added 19 and Augustus chipped in with 10. The 2-3 start in conference play is Mississippi State's worst since 2006.

The teams combined to shoot 16 for 56 from 3-point range.