BULLDOGS OPEN EUROPEAN TOUR WITH WIN AGAINST NETHERLANDS
Team Notes
ALMERE,
Netherlands – Less than 30 hours after arriving to Amsterdam,
Mississippi State opened its five-game European tour with a solid 82-70
win against the split Netherlands national team Sunday afternoon at the
Top Sports Centrum.
And it was a pair of newcomers that led the charge for the Bulldogs,
who never trailed in the contest.
Arnett Moultrie, the transfer from UTEP playing for the first time in
more than a year, shined in his debut with 14 points and 14 rebounds to
record a double-double, while highly touted freshman Rodney Hood led
all scorers with 15 points.
Also in double-digits for MSU where junior forward Wendell Lewis with
14 points on 7-of-7 shooting and freshman point guard Deville Smith
with 11.
“I loved our effort,” MSU coach Rick Stansbury said.
“Now did we play a perfect game? No. We have a lot to work on.
But considering all the new faces we have and the limited number of
practices without any type of scouting report, I thought we did
OK.”
MSU opened with a lineup featuring Dee Bost, Brian Bryant, Shaun Smith,
Lewis and Moultrie. However, the bench provided a spark as the six
reserves all scored en route to accounting for 42 points.
But if there was a key to the outcome, at least early on, it was the
play inside.
Of the Bulldogs’ first 14 points, 12 came in the paint –
six from Lewis and four from Moultrie.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve played in a game,
and it felt good to be back on the court,” said Moultrie, who sat
out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. “I thought I did
good, but I’m not where I know I can be. But it was a good
start.”
Playing by FIBA rules, MSU led 18-14 after the opening quarter and then
extended the lead to 37-30 at the break following a 3-pointer by
Deville Smith at the buzzer.
In the second half, however, MSU found success both inside and out as
it built as much as a 21-point lead at 76-55 with 4:40 left on layup
inside by Lewis.
“I thought it was a good first game, but I’m disappointed
with my rebounds,” said Lewis, who had three boards on the night.
State shot 50 percent from the floor in the final 20 minutes, and 48.6
percent for the game on 36 of 74 shooting.
Hood, who was just 2 of 7 in the opening two quarters, was 4 of 6 in
the second half. Also with a solid second half was freshman Roquez
Johnson, who hit 3 of his 4 shots to finish with nine points.
“This is a good experience for all of our new guys,”
Stansbury said. “It’s a taste for what they’ll see
come November.”
Defensively, MSU held the Netherlands to 26-of-63 shooting while
forcing 20 turnovers and turning those miscues into 19 points. They
also collected 12 steals, with Deville Smith leading the charge with
three.
If there was a negative, it came at the foul line.
MSU, which returns to action at 9:30 a.m. CT tomorrow at Rotterdam,
missed its first nine shots from the charity stripe, but rebounded by
hitting its final seven.
Kendrick Zondervan and Jeroen van Vugt, who drained three 3-pointers,
led the Netherlands with 14 points each.
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