Jimmy Bell's double-double leads Mississippi State to rout of North Alabama

When Jimmy Bell transferred from West Virginia to Mississippi State this summer, he expected to play a backup role to All-SEC center Tolu Smith. But with Smith missing the non-conference slate due to injury, Bell’s role quickly changed and he has accepted that challenge with a smile on his face.

On Tuesday night, the senior center produced his first double-double as a Bulldog – 14 points and 14 rebounds – to lead State to a 81-54 win over North Alabama at Humphrey Coliseum. State moved to 3-0 on the year while the Lions dropped to 2-1.

Bell, who has averaged 11.5 rebounds in the first three games, was 6 of 11 from the field and also had three blocked shots.

“Just being more focused,” noted Bell of his mindset as a starter. “Coming in, I knew Tolu was going to be a big part of this team, a preseason All-American and all of that. So I didn’t come in trying to replace him or do what he does. I just came in being myself and knowing I have a big responsibility.”

For head coach Chris Jans, the production of Bell has been a welcomed sight with Smith on the sidelines.

“I haven’t seen a big change in his mindset,” said Jans of Bell. “He’s been pretty business-like since he’s arrived. He’s a been there, done that kind of guy. There’s some things we got to work on. He’s not getting low enough in the post against some guys that are not as heavy as him.

“But he is logging more minutes than he is probably used to. He probably didn’t expect that. But he is certainly gaining confidence in the system and our coaches and other players are gaining confidence in him, too.”

Josh Hubbard added 12 points for State off the bench and the Bulldogs also got nine points from Trey Fort and Andrew Taylor, a former Marshall transfer. Overall, State’s bench outscored North Alabama, 40-14. After missing the first two games due to suspension, senior guard Shakeel Moore made his season debut and finished with eight points.

Taylor also had three assists and three rebounds in 15 minutes of action. It was a relief for Taylor, as well, to produce Tuesday after struggling the first two games of the season.

“I feel like you can’t really control the misses,” Taylor said. “You can control your work ethic and your energy. Just square your shoulders up and let it fly, trusting that if you do miss, you got the whole rest of the team to help you get through the game and come away with a ‘W’.”

Tim Smith and KJ Johnson each had 11 points to pace North Alabama.

Early in the second half, the Lions trailed just 38-35 before the Bulldogs began to play more to Jans’ liking. DJ Jeffries, who scored all eight of his points in the second half, had five points in 17 seconds to put State up 48-35 and North Alabama never got the deficit under double digits the rest of the way.

Jeffries did not start the second half on Tuesday after missing all five of his shots in the first half. In the second half he made 2 of 3 from 3 point range.

“That’s big,” said Jans of Jeffries’ second half. “Didn’t start him in the second half just to try to jumpstart us. We ended the half so poorly so we made a slight change to see if we could alter it a little bit. With DJ, it is just shot selection and I would rather have him shoot more 3s, to be honest with you.”

After the Lions threatened State in the early stages of the second half, the Bulldogs quickly removed any hopes that North Alabama had of pulling an upset.

“I feel like energy and effort was a big part of that run,” added Taylor of the second half. “We had to put our foot on the gas.”

In the first half, Mississippi State jumped out to a 14-4 lead following a Hubbard four-point play with 14:37 remaining in the half. The Bulldogs lead by as many as 13 in the opening half before the Lions roared back to cut the lead to 29-24 in the closing minutes. The Bulldogs ended up taking a 36-28 lead into the halftime break.

State shot just 39% in the first half and made only 4 of 18 attempts behind the 3 point arc. The Bulldogs out-rebounded North Alabama 24-18 in the first half and had seven turnovers.

North Alabama shot 41% in the opening half, including 2 of 6 from 3 point range. The Lions also had 11 first-half turnovers.

Mississippi State takes to the road this weekend for the first time. The Bulldogs face Washington State Saturday in a 10 a.m. tipoff at the Basketball Hall of Fame Class in Uncasville, Conn. Mississippi State will then either face Northwestern or Rhode Island on Sunday.