Troy 56, Mississippi State 53: Guard Emil Jones hit a contested mid-range jumper with 1.6 seconds left to break a 53-53 tie and lift the host Trojans over the Bulldogs in the first game at the new 5,200-seat Trojan Arena.

Troy, hosting an SEC team for the first time, blew a 32-22 halftime lead as Mississippi State rallied to tie it 53-all with 1:10 left. Both teams missed opportunities before Jones won it, sending the arena into a frenzy.

Jones and fellow guard Hunter Williams finished with 10 points apiece, while forward Tevin Calhoun came off the bench to score 12.

Mississippi State, which lost 82 percent of its scoring from last season, got 16 points from guard Jalen Steele in its first game under coach Rick Ray. The former Clemson assistant replaced Rick Stansbury, who retired.

The Bulldogs hit 4-of-16 from beyond the arc, and 11-of-18 from the foul line.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Troy was picked to finish fifth in the Sun Belt’s six-team East Division, while Mississippi State was picked last in the 14-team SEC. … The Bulldogs played with eight healthy scholarship players after losing two guards to season-ending injuries. … Troy hit 10 of 29 3-pointers.