Box Score

TUPELO, Miss. – A career-high 26 points by senior Antonnio Benton was not enough Friday as the Southeastern Louisiana men's basketball team fell late to Mississippi State at the BancorpSouth Arena, 68-62.

Benton led all scorers as he turned in the best scoring game of his career for the second-consecutive contest. He also picked up a game-high eight rebounds.

On the strength of 45 percent shooting, Southeastern (3-6) led 33-32 at halftime. The Lions, who were 5-of-12 from three-point range in the first half, converted just one of 12 three-point attempts in the second half.

JaMichael Hawkins and Jeffery Ricard chipped in with eight points each for the Lions. Southeastern shot 29-of-36 from the floor (39.7 percent) and 6-of-24 (25 percent) from beyond the arc.

Craig Sword led the Bulldogs (6-2) with 22 points, the only Mississippi State player scoring in double digits. Colin Borchert and Gavin Ware each contributed nine points. Borchert led the team with seven rebounds.

Southeastern's next contest will be on the road. The Lions matchup with Tennessee-Martin, Dec. 21, in a return trip from the 2012 Sears Bracketbusters. Southeastern returns home to host Spring Hill, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m. in the University Center.


SOUTHEASTERN LA. (3-6)
Benton, Antonnio 10-17 5-6 26; Hawkins, JaMichael 4-13 0-0 8; Ricard, Jeffery 3-9 1-2 8; Filmore, Joshua 2-8 0-0 6; Ochie, Onochie 2-4 0-0 5; Chiera, Julian 2-5 0-0 5; Upson, Devonte 2-4 0-0 4; Cooper, Quin 0-0 0-0 0; Evans, Dre 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 25-63 6-8 62.

MISSISSIPPI STATE (6-2)
Sword, Craig 9-11 2-6 22; Borchert, Colin 2-5 4-4 9; Ware, Gavin 4-6 1-3 9; Thomas, Fred 3-10 2-2 8; Johnson, Roquez 3-6 0-2 6; Applewhite, Dre 1-1 4-6 6; Bloodman, Trivante 1-1 2-5 4; Cunningham, Tyson 1-1 0-0 2; Ready, IJ 1-5 0-0 2. Totals 25-46 15-28 68.

Southeastern La.............   33   29  -   62
Mississippi State.............   32   36  -   68

3-point goals--Southeastern La. 6-24 (Filmore, Joshua 2-7; Chiera, Julian 1-2; Ochie, Onochie 1-1; Benton, Antonnio 1-3; Ricard, Jeffery 1-4; Evans, Dre 0-2; Hawkins, JaMichael 0-5), Mississippi State 3-8 (Craig Sword 2-2; Colin Borchert 1-4; Fred Thomas 0-1; IJ Ready 0-1). Fouled out—Southeastern La.-None, Mississippi State-None. Rebounds--Southeastern La. 31 (Benton, Antonnio 8), Mississippi State 34 (Colin Borchert 7). Assists—Southeastern La. 12 (Filmore, Joshua 6), Mississippi State 12 (IJ Ready 4). Total fouls--Southeastern La. 24, Mississippi State 15. Technical fouls--Southeastern La.-None, Mississippi State-None. A-2035