Iverson Molinar scored 18 points and host Mississippi State rolled to an 87-48 victory over Mississippi Valley State on Monday night.

Molinar had 12 points as the Bulldogs (5-3) rolled to a 17-point halftime lead and coasted to their fifth victory in as many home games. Their average margin of victory at home is 20 points as they prepare to open Southeastern Conference play next week.

D.J. Stewart Jr. added 15 points and Tolu Smith scored 13 and had 12 rebounds and Quinten Post had 10 off the bench. Jalen Johnson, making his second start in a row after coming off the bench to start the season, also had 10 points after scoring a season-high 15 in his first start.

Terry Collins scored 17 points, Devin Gordon added 16 and Caleb Hunter had 10 to lead the Delta Devils (0-8) who completed their road-only pre-Southwestern Athletic Conference schedule.

MVSU, which finished 3-27 last season, has lost its games by an average of 44 points, including three games against SEC opponents by an average of 54 points.

Stewart had four points as the Bulldogs scored the first nine points of the second half and took a 51-25 lead.

Hunter's 3-pointer ended the Delta Devils' drought but they never made a meaningful run during the second half, in which it was outscored 45-23.

MVSU led twice and the score was tied at 7 before Mississippi State started a series of runs.

Johnson made two 3-pointers during an 8-0 run that gave the Bulldogs a 15-7 lead.

Collins' jumper ended that run and he added a 3-pointer that cut the lead to 19-12.

Molinar and Javian Davis had four points each during a 10-2 run that increased the lead to 29-14.

Quavon Blackwood's jumper cut the lead to 31-22 before Molinar had six points as the Bulldogs increased the lead to 40-22.

Gordon made three free throws for the Delta Devils before Johnson hit a jumper that left the Bulldogs with a 42-25 halftime lead.

--Field Level Media