Bulldogs 'steal' win from Vandy

STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI - No. 23 Mississippi State&#39;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> <br> The backcourt of Timmy Bowers and Derrick Zimmerman led the way at both ends for the Bulldogs (14-5, 4-4 Southeastern Conference).<br> <br> Bowers had 14 points and five assists while Zimmerman had 13 points, three steals, seven assists and a blocked shot.<br> <br> 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> <br> Mississippi State had 15 steals and turned those Commodores giveaways into 25 points, many coming in the open court.<br> <br> The Bulldogs shot 57 percent, had six blocked shots and outrebounded Vanderbilt 38-24.<br> <br> Matt Freije led Vanderbilt with 21 points, including 4-of-9 shooting from 3-point range. Brian Thornton added 13 points.<br> <br> Ontario Harper had 13 points and three steals and Michael Ignerski had 11 points. Mario Austin, Mississippi State&#39;s leading scorer, had 14 points, but most came in the final 10 minutes with the Bulldogs already way ahead.<br> <br> The Bulldogs controlled the first half with their defense and transition game. Mississippi State had nine steals among Vanderbilt&#39;s 13 turnovers, and built a 36-24 halftime lead.<br> <br> Mississippi State pulled away by starting the second half with a 16-6 run sparked by Bowers and Zimmerman.<br> <br> 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> <br> 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> <br> Vandy made a mini-run to pull within 61-47 with 10 minutes left, but the Bulldogs&#39; quickly got control of the game back.<br> <br> 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> <br> Mississippi State then cruised to its fourth win in the last five games.<br> <br> 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.

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