Jalen Steele hit a go-ahead jumper with 30 seconds to play, and host Mississippi State withstood a 40-point outburst from Appalachian State's Donald Sims to earn a 76-74 win at Humphrey Coliseum.

Kodi Augustus scored a team-high 24 points and Ravern Johnson added 19 for the Bulldogs (2-0), who saw Sims and the Mountaineers erase an 11-point halftime deficit. Appalachian State (2-1) even managed to build a 71-64 lead before the hosts rallied themselves, and Sims misfired on what would have been a go-ahead 3 in the closing seconds.

The sharp shooting from Augustus and Johnson in the first half, when they combined for 26 points and 5-for-7 3-point shooting, boosted the Bulldogs to a 43-32 halftime lead. Brian Bryant had made all three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point try to pull MSU within 74-73 with 30 seconds to play.

Mississippi State opened with a 75-65 home victory over Tennessee State, and the Bulldogs are without projected starters Renardo Sidney and Dee Bost, out because of NCAA suspensions.

Appalachian State started 2-0 for new coach Jason Capel, though the Mountaineers beat NAIA school Montreat College their last time out.