Mississippi State men’s basketball back in action Friday against North Texas

STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Mississippi State men’s basketball team continues its three-game homestand on Friday as it faces North Texas at Humphrey Coliseum. Game time is set for 7 p.m. CT and can be streamed via SEC Network+.

The Bulldogs (1-2) are coming off a 68-51 victory over Texas State on Monday. The win was career win No. 500 for head coach Ben Howland. Redshirt sophomore guard D.J. Stewart Jr. led Mississippi State with a career-high 23 points in that game.

The Mean Green (1-1) defeated Mississippi Valley State 116-62 in their season opener by making a program-record 21 3-pointers. They lost to Arkansas 69-54 on Saturday.

The Bulldogs own a 68-19 home record and have won 38 of their 42 nonconference home games under Howland.

Friday’s matchup is the third meeting between Mississippi State and North Texas on the hardwood. Most recently, the Bulldogs earned an 82-59 home win over the Mean Green on Nov. 27, 2011.

MSU is led by Stewart with 18.3 points per game on 22-for-47 (46.8%) shooting. redshirt sophomore forward Tolu Smith is averaging 14.7 points per game and 7.3 rebounds.

North Texas is led by a trio of scorers who are averaging double-digit points. Junior guard Mardrez McBride is averaging 14.5 points per game, while senior guard James Reese and senior forward Zachary Simmons are averaging 13 points apiece.