STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI - No. 23 Mississippi State's entire starting five scored in double figures and its quick-handed defense forced 21 turnovers as the Bulldogs defeated Vanderbilt 82-60 Wednesday night.<br>
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The backcourt of Timmy Bowers and Derrick Zimmerman led the way at both ends for the Bulldogs (14-5, 4-4 Southeastern Conference).<br>
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Bowers had 14 points and five assists while Zimmerman had 13 points, three steals, seven assists and a blocked shot.<br>
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Vanderbilt (10-9, 3-5) had won two straight, but both came at home. The Commodores fell to 0-7 on the road, unable to keep up with the quicker and bigger Bulldogs, who beat them by more than 20 for the third straight time.<br>
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Mississippi State had 15 steals and turned those Commodores giveaways into 25 points, many coming in the open court.<br>
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The Bulldogs shot 57 percent, had six blocked shots and outrebounded Vanderbilt 38-24.<br>
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Matt Freije led Vanderbilt with 21 points, including 4-of-9 shooting from 3-point range. Brian Thornton added 13 points.<br>
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Ontario Harper had 13 points and three steals and Michael Ignerski had 11 points. Mario Austin, Mississippi State's leading scorer, had 14 points, but most came in the final 10 minutes with the Bulldogs already way ahead.<br>
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The Bulldogs controlled the first half with their defense and transition game. Mississippi State had nine steals among Vanderbilt's 13 turnovers, and built a 36-24 halftime lead.<br>
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Mississippi State pulled away by starting the second half with a 16-6 run sparked by Bowers and Zimmerman.<br>
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After the Commodores scored the first two points of the half, Bowers hit a 3-pointer. Zimmerman then stole the inbounds pass and hit a layup to make it 41-26.<br>
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Mississippi State closed the surge with Harper sinking a wide-open 3 and Austin getting free inside for one of rare times in the game to make it 52-30.<br>
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Vandy made a mini-run to pull within 61-47 with 10 minutes left, but the Bulldogs' quickly got control of the game back.<br>
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Austin finished a runout with a finger roll that made it 63-47 with 9 minutes left. Soon after Michael Ignerski hit a 3 from the top of the circle to make it 68-47.<br>
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Mississippi State then cruised to its fourth win in the last five games.<br>
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Austin managed only two points and two fouls in the first half. But while the Commodores were collapsing around 6-foot-9 center, five other Bulldogs scored at least five points, led by Harper with eight.
