No. 22 Bulldogs hold off Tigers at Never Forget Tribute Classic

NEWARK, N.J. - Lamar Peters scored 28 points to lead No. 22 Mississippi State to a wire-to-wire 82-71 win over Clemson in the first game of the Never Forget Tribute Classic on Saturday.

Quinndary Weatherspoon had 20 points for Mississippi State (8-1), which has won five straight. The Bulldogs shot 63 percent from 3-point range. Peters was 8 of 11 from beyond the arc.

Clemson (6-3) got 23 points from Aamir Simms and 18 points from Elijah Thomas.

Weatherspoon's 3-pinter from the top of the key put Mississippi State ahead 74-60 with 6:13 remaining, capping a 9-0 run. Clemson did not get closer than eight points the rest of the way after closing within five points a few times earlier in the second half.

The Bulldogs shot 56 percent (10 of 18) from 3-point range in the first half to take a 42-34 lead. They led by as many 19 points in the half.

BIG PICTURE

Mississippi State connected on 19 of its 30 3-pointers.

Clemson suffered its worst loss of the season. It had lost to Creighton and Nebraska by a combined five points.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs are off until next Saturday when they host Wofford.

Clemson has a week off before it hosts Cincinnati next Saturday.