COL BKB: Mississippi St 86, Florida St 71

STARKVILLE, Miss., March 20 (UPI) -- Jamont Gordon scored 16 points Tuesday to lead the Mississippi State Bulldogs to an 86-71 win over the Florida State Seminoles in the NIT quarterfinals.

Gordon added seven assists and five rebounds for Mississippi State (21-13), while five other players scored in double figures. Charles Rhodes had 14 points, Dietric Slater 13, Ben Hansbrough 12, and Barry Stewart and Jarvis Varnado 10 points each.

Isaiah Swann scored 31 points for Florida State (22-13). Al Thornton and Toney Douglas added 16 and 12 points, respectively.

The Bulldogs led 42-29 at halftime.

Mississippi State will advance to the NIT semifinals for the first time in school history and will play either N.C. State or West Virginia.