MSU’S Smith chosen SEC Player of Week

Mississippi State forward Tolu Smith said after Saturday night's 63-52 win over Missouri that it didn't matter if he had 20 points or zero points. The main thing he wanted to do was get wins.

Lately, Smith has gotten his cake and ate it too.

In Bulldog victories over South Carolina on the road and Missouri at home,

Smith averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds. His 25 points against Missouri was a Southeastern Conference seasonhigh and the nine free throws he made in that game was a career-high.

Smith was chosen the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week for his recent performance.

'We are certainly excited by how he's playing,” MSU head coach Chris Jans said. “We are happy for him and the team to receive accolades like that during the season. He's deserving of everything he gets.”

During the Missouri game, Smith became the sixth Bulldog since 2017-18 and 42nd player overall to eclipse 1,000 points in program history.

Smith has enjoyed double-figure scoring games in the last seven outings for MSU and has achieved a double-double in five of his last seven contests.

When Smith is playing that well, Jans knows it makes the Bulldogs better.

“I think everybody understands individuals reap the benefits of (awards), but it's recognition for our team,” Jans said. “We have to give him the ball when he's open and sacrifice some of their game when he's cooking like that.”

Smith will try and continue the momentum Wednesday night when MSU (15-8 overall, 3-7 SEC) hosts the LSU Tigers at 8 p.m.

In another basketball related news, it has been reported that Mississippi State, Northwestern, Rhode Island and Washington State will make up the field for the 2023 Hall of Fame Tip-off at Mohegan Sun.