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STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) -- Lawrence Roberts scored 21 of his season-high 27 points in the first half to lead No. 22 Mississippi State to an 83-53 rout of Arkansas-Little Rock on Saturday night.
The preseason All-American and reigning Southeastern Conference player of the year bounced back from a poor performance against 15th-ranked Arizona with his biggest game of the season.
Roberts scored the Bulldogs' first 10 points, then keyed a 21-0 spurt late in the half which helped Mississippi State (7-2) seize control against Arkansas-Little Rock (4-4). The Trojans got just 6 points from leading scorer Brandon Freeman - nearly 10 below his average.
By halftime, Roberts surpassed his previous season high of 20 points, set last month against Saint Mary's. Held to seven points last week in a 68-64 loss to Arizona, Roberts dominated the outmanned Trojans almost from the tip-off.
Mississippi State used a 15-4 run midway through the half to take the lead for good, then scored 21 straight points bridging the halftime to push their lead permanently into double figures.
Zack Wright led Arkansas-Little Rock with 15 points, and Darius Eason had 12. Freeman made just two of 10 shots.
Mississippi State's leading scorer, Winsome Frazier, who averages 14.8 points, had just 5.
Mississippi State led 42-24 at halftime, outrebounded the smaller Trojans 55-23 and shot 47 percent.