Live updates from Mississippi State men's basketball's game vs Lamar
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men's basketball required overtime to dispatch Richmond in the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship, but the game showed how valuable forward Tolu Smith can be.
Smith scored 22 points and added 11 rebounds against the Spiders, his second game back from a September foot surgery to correct a stress fracture. His presence should help the Bulldogs, particularly down low, giving an imposing low-post option. The 6-foot-11 forward should also open up the inside-out game, with dish-outs to guards for open looks on the perimeter.
Smith and Mississippi State will continue to improve against Lamar on Thursday (7 p.m., SEC Network+). The Cardinals (1-6) have struggled out of the gates.
OVERTIME WIN: Mississippi State men's basketball survives scare against Richmond through Tolu Smith
RETURNING: Back from foot injury, Tolu Smith is ready to be Mississippi State basketball's stalwart
The Bulldogs suffered their first loss of the season against Louisville last week, shooting just 1-for-15 from behind the arc. They tend to penetrate the lane instead, but coach Ben Howland's squad settled for jumpers that didn't fall.
That performance was an outlier. Mississippi State is shooting 38% from three, the second-best percentage in the SEC. The team has also attempted by far the fewest threes, however, of any team in the conference.
Follow along for live updates between Mississippi State and Lamar.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Live updates: Mississippi State men's basketball vs Lamar
