STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Gavin Ware scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Mississippi State to a 71-48 win over North Carolina Central on Thursday to close out the Bulldogs' non-conference schedule.
Ware shot 5 of 7 from the field and was 6 of 6 at the free-throw line.
Malik Newman added 15 points, including 11 in the first half, for the Bulldogs (6-8). Quinndary Weatherspoon scored 14 points, with seven rebounds and four assists.
North Carolina Central shot 24 percent from the field and made just 5 of 30 3-pointers, but outrebounded the Bulldogs 48-38, led by Jeremiah Ingram with 12.