:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68563067/usa_today_15291717.0.jpg)
STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Mississippi State men’s basketball team returns to the hardwood Monday as it hosts Mississippi Valley State at Humphrey Coliseum. Tip time is set for 7 p.m. CT and will be televised by SEC Network.
Last time out, the Bulldogs (4-3) defeated Central Arkansas 81-65. Sophomore guard D.J. Stewart Jr. led the way with 17 points, six rebounds and a team-high five assists. Redshirt senior forward Jalen Johnson added a spark with a season-high 15 points in his first start as a Bulldog.
Stewart leads the Bulldogs with 18.7 points per game, while sophomore guard Iversen Molinar is second with 17.5. Redshirt sophomore forward Tolu Smith is averaging 14.0 points and a team-high 8.4 rebounds.
Mississippi Valley State (0-7) is coming off an 84-41 loss to Vanderbilt. The Delta Devils are 0-2 against Southeastern Conference, also falling to Arkansas 142-62.
The Delta Devils have three players averaging in double figures. Junior guard Kam’Ron Cunningham leads the way with 12.9 points per game, while junior guard Terry Collins is averaging 12.5 points and freshman guard Devin Gordon is averaging 11.6.
Collins has not played during Mississippi Valley State’s last three games. Freshman guard Treylan Smith has filled in for Collins and has averaged 9.7 points per game, including 19 at Memphis.
Senior guard Alexander Perry, the younger brother of former MSU standout Reggie Perry, has been the top performer off the bench for the Delta Devils with 5.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Alan Perry, the father of Reggie and Alexander, is an assistant coach on the Mississippi Valley State coaching staff.
The Bulldogs own a 71-19 home record and have won 41 of their 45 nonconference home games under sixth-year coach Ben Howland. MSU is on a 12-game home winning streak dating back to Jan. 4, 2020. The 12-game winning streak for the Bulldogs is the longest in the SEC.
Monday’s matchup is the sixth between the Bulldogs and Delta Devils on the hardwood. MSU has won all five previous meetings by an average of 25.0 points.