STARKVILLE, Miss., - Mississippi State ended 2012 on a sour note Sunday with an embarrassing loss to Alabama A&M.

Four days removed, the Bulldogs took out their frustrations on New Orleans 97-46 to ring in the new year positively.

"I'm just glad we came out in 2013 with a good win," said junior guard Jalen Steele. "It's a new year and now it's time to build on top of this going into SEC play. I know it's going to be hard but we've just got to keep fighting, doing what we're doing and play together. I think it's all going to work out for the best."

MSU shattered many of its season benchmarks in the contest shooting 56.5-percent from the floor and also knocking down 11-of-21 behind the arc. The Bulldogs scored 33 points off of turnovers and had 46 points come from its thin bench.

"When you force 23 turnovers it gives you a chance to go out and play transition basketball," said MSU head coach Rick Ray. "I don't care what team you are, you always play better in transition because you're playing advantage basketball and not playing against a set defense. That's what we want. We want our guys to get out and play in the open court."



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