Mississippi St pulls away for 75-49 win over North Alabama

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Garrison Brooks scored 18 points and Mississippi State went on a late run to pull away for a 75-49 victory over North Alabama in a season opener on Wednesday night.

Omar Figueroa's layup pulled North Alabama within 55-45 with 7:15 remaining, but Iverson Molinar hit a layup and Shakeel Moore, Brooks and Cameron Matthews followed with dunks to ignite a 15-0 run that sealed the win.

Molinar finished with 13 points for the Bulldogs, while Matthews grabbed 14 rebounds — adding seven points and four assists.

Mississippi State has won eight of its last nine season openers and is 4-0 all-time against North Alabama.

Jamari Blackmon led the Lions with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor. Isaac Chatman pitched in with nine points and six rebounds.

The Bulldogs held North Alabama to 31.1% shooting from the floor and just 25% from beyond the arc.

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