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Riley Kugel scored 22 points and No. 17 Mississippi State used improved defense in the second half to pull away to an 87-73 victory against Bethune-Cookman on Monday night in Starkville, Miss.

Josh Hubbard scored 16, RJ Melendez and Claudell Harris Jr. had 12 each and the Bulldogs (12-1) held the Wildcats (3-10) to 28 points in the second half after allowing 45 in the first half. Mississippi State forced a total of 17 turnovers, leading to 24 points.

The Bulldogs, who open Southeastern Conference play at home against South Carolina on Saturday, won their sixth straight game.

Trey Thomas and Brayon Freeman scored 21 each and Reggie Ward Jr. added 14 points and 14 rebounds to lead Bethune-Cookman, which received just 15 points from its bench compared to 34 for the Mississippi State reserves.

The Wildcats begin Southwestern Athletic Conference play at Florida A&M on Saturday.

Ward scored the first three points of the second half to pull Bethune-Cookman within 52-48. Michael Nwoko’s field goal helped Mississippi State rebuild the lead to 10.

The Wildcats got within six points three times before Harris made a 3-pointer during a 7-0 run that pushed the lead to 72-59.

Ward made a layup to stop the run, but the lead eventually grew to as much as 18 points.

The lead changed hands six times during the opening minutes before Melendez made two free throws to give the Bulldogs an 11-7 lead. Hubbard, Melendez and Kugel made 3-pointer during a 9-0 run that gave Mississippi State an 11-point lead.

Thomas stopped the surge by making a 3-pointer, but the Bulldogs pushed the lead to 13 on a 3-pointer by Kugel. Thomas had five straight points during a 12-0 run that pulled the Wildcats within one point.

Consecutive baskets by Kugel, Cameron Matthews and Nwoko plus three free throws by Hubbard pushed the lead to 36-26. Thomas answered with four straight points before Matthews dunked.

Bethune-Cookman closed within three points twice before Hubbard made four consecutive free throws to help Mississippi State open a 50-41 lead on its way to a 52-45 halftime edge.

–Field Level Media