Trojans hit road seeking upset of 17th-ranked Bulldogs

Dec 10, 2011 - 3:48 PM Starkville, MS (Sports Network) - The 17th-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs are off to a tremendous start, and they welcome the streaking Troy Trojans to Starkville this afternoon.

Troy has won its last three games to improve to 4-3 overall, and the club continues to prepare for the start of Sun Belt Conference play on December 29. The Trojans have been idle since last Saturday when they knocked off Miami-Ohio by a 73-60 final in front of the home crowd.

As for Mississippi State, it owns its highest national ranking since the 2003-04 campaign. The Bulldogs have won their last seven outings to move to 8-1 overall and have been idle since last Saturday's 75-62 victory over West Virginia, a solid opponent from the Big East Conference. MSU is a member of the SEC and competes in the West Division of that league, a division that is clearly up for grabs this season.

Mississippi State has won all eight of its previous meetings with Troy, although the Trojans did take the Bulldogs to overtime last season.

There are four double-digit scorers in the lineup for Troy, and Will Weathers leads the balanced attack with 13.2 ppg. More than just a scorer, Weathers has handed out 40 assists through the six games that he has played. R.J. Scott has started all seven tilts for the Trojans, and he provides 12.7 ppg despite 39 percent shooting from the field. Alan Jones (11.6 ppg) and Justin Wright (11.3 ppg) round out the foursome for Troy, which is netting an impressive 80.4 ppg while allowing 73.1 ppg to opponents. Wright scored 18 points for Troy on 4- of-5 shooting from three-point range in the 13-point win over Miami last time out. Jones posted 13 points in that affair for the Trojans, who nailed 14- of-26 three-point attempts, impressive to say the least. They also held the RedHawks to 36.7 percent shooting from the field.

Mississippi State has a couple of outstanding performers in the fold in Dee Bost and Arnett Moultrie. Bost entered the week ranked third in the SEC in scoring with 17.0 ppg, and he is tops in the steal department with 25 already. Add 37 assists to the fold and Bost does a little bit of everything for his club. Moultrie is a force up front, as he is scoring 16.7 ppg to go along with 11.1 rpg. The third and final double-digit scorer on the roster is Rodney Hood with 12.3 ppg. MSU is generating 73.4 ppg while limiting opponents to 61.1 ppg on 41.4 percent field goal efficiency. In the 13-point victory over West Virginia last time out, Moultrie posted 21 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 7-of-8 from the floor. Bost had 17 points and seven assists in that affair, and Jalen Steele contributed 10 points. The Bulldogs hit 20-of-24 free throws in the clash.