Isaac Molinar scored 16 points and Shakeel Moore and D.J. Jeffries each added 15 to lead host Mississippi State to an 86-49 victory over Montana on Saturday in Starkville, Miss.
Jeffries and Cameron Matthews (11 points) each sank three 3-pointers for the Bulldogs (2-0), who shot 52.5 percent from the floor (32 of 61) and 56.5 from beyond the arc (13 of 23).
Matthews, in fact, is off to a fast start this season after recording a career-best 14 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals in Mississippi State's 75-49 victory over North Alabama on Wednesday.
Garrison Brooks collected nine points and 11 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who scored 19 of the game's first 24 points to set the tone for Saturday's contest.
Mississippi State held a decided 47-28 advantage in rebounds, including 10-5 on the offensive glass.
Montana (1-1), conversely, struggled with its shooting in the first half. It shot 22.2 percent from the floor (6 of 27) and 25 percent from 3-point range (4 of 16).
Overall, the Grizzlies shot 29.1 percent from the field and 29 percent from behind the arc.
Derrick Carter-Hollinger scored 11 points and Josh Vazquez added 10 off the bench for the Grizzlies, who struggled to slow down the Bulldogs after putting the clamps on Dickinson State in the season opener. Montana limited the Blue Hawks to 13 points in the first half in a 74-27 victory on Tuesday.
Lonnell Martin Jr. made a jumper for Montana before Matthews sank a pair of 3-pointers and an emphatic dunk to highlight Mississippi State's 13-0 run.
Jeffries sank a pair of 3-pointers and a layup to push the Bulldogs' advantage to 24-11.
Mississippi State didn't let up, as nine players dented the scoresheet en route to helping the club take a 42-16 lead at halftime.
The Bulldogs sealed the win by scoring the first 13 points of the second half to take a 55-16 lead. Brooks converted a three-point play, Jeffries and Matthews each sank a 3-pointer and Moore added a layup to complete the surge.
--Field Level Media
Montana | Mississippi State | |
Derrick Carter-Hollinger 11 | Scoring | Iverson Molinar 16 |
Robby Beasley 3 | Assists | Cam Carter 7 |
Mack Anderson 8 | Rebounds | Garrison Brooks 11 |
Mack Anderson 2 | Free Throws Made | Iverson Molinar 4 |
Josh Bannan 1 | Steals | Andersson Garcia 3 |
Mack Anderson 1 | Blocks | Derek Fountain 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Montana | 49 | 29.1 | 9-31 | 8-11 | 13 | 27 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
Mississippi State | 86 | 52.5 | 13-23 | 9-15 | 18 | 45 | 4 | 8 | 9 |