STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Jarvis Varnado scored 21 points and had 11 rebounds to lead Mississippi State to a 81-67 victory over Jackson State on Tuesday night in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.
MSU (24-11) shot 40.7 percent from the field (22 for 54) and hit just 8 of 29 from 3-point range.
Jackson State (19-13) turned the ball over 16 times in the loss.
The Bulldogs will play North Carolina in the second round of the NIT on Saturday.
MSU opened the game on a 13-6 run and led 32-23 at the half. JSU rallied to within five points early in the second half, but came no closer after a 15-5 Bulldog run.
