JACKSON, Miss. -- Xavian Stapleton scored 12 points on four 3-pointers as Mississippi State held off Southern Miss 70-64 in the second annual Capital City Showdown at the Mississippi Coliseum on Saturday night.
The Bulldogs have now four in a row over Southern Miss and are off to their first 11-1 start since the 2011-2012 season.
"Xavian was big for us tonight especially when he hit two big threes," said third-year Mississippi State coach Ben Howland. "Fortunate to get come out of here with a win, Southern Miss had a great game plan and was patient on offense.