Davante Gardner contributed 15 points and 12 rebounds for Marquette (4-1), which lost to Butler the day before on a last-second 3-pointer. Trent Lockett, in his first season at Marquette after playing three years at Arizona State, scored 13 points and Jamil Wilson added 11 points and four blocked shots.

Fred Thomas, a freshman guard, led outmanned Mississippi State (1-3) with 17 points and sophomore forward Roquez Johnson had 16, one off his career high.

Marquette finished with 14 steals, 15 offensive rebounds and forced 22 turnovers. The Golden Eagles also shot 7-for-11 from 3-point range.

Mississippi State didn’t score in the game’s first 4 1/2 minutes and fell behind by as many as 25 points in the first half.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Mississippi State only brought only six scholarship players to the tournament and used seven players against Marquette. … All 11 players who entered the game for Marquette recorded at least one steal. … Marquette junior G Jake Thomas made all three of his 3-point tries and scored nine points.