By R.L. Bynum
Suddenly, Garrison Brooks is a perimeter threat.
After scoring six 3-pointers in four seasons at North Carolina, he has that many in the last two games and eight this season for Mississippi State.
Brooks scored 11 of his team-high 15 points in the first half Saturday and made 3 of 6 3-point attempts in Mississippi State’s 66–63 loss to undefeated Colorado State at the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Fort Worth, Texas.
His six 3-pointers in the last two games came after notching only two in the first seven games.
The Bulldogs (7–3) led by 11 points in the first half and eight with 6:16 left, but Colorado State (10–0) rallied with a 17–2 run.
Brooks’ follow shot with 1:02 left cut the Bulldogs’ deficit to 66–63. Mississippi State missed three potential game-tying 3-pointer attempts in the final eight seconds, including one at the buzzer.
Brooks made his first three 3-point attempts and, much like some current Tar Heels, is taking advantage of more spacing in the Bulldogs’ offense compared to last season’s Carolina offense.
Brooks, shooting 40% from 3-point range, has scored in double figures for four consecutive games after doing that once last season. It happened early in the season and included 18 points on Dec. 2 in Carolina’s 69–67 loss to Texas in Asheville during the Maui Classic.
In his first start of the season and only his fourth game, Morgan State guard Seventh Woods scored seven points in 17 minutes of the Bears’ 93–56 Saturday loss at Longwood.
Morgan State (4–6) had its two-game win streak snapped and are 2–2 when Woods plays.
Walker Kessler again started for Auburn in its 99–68 Saturday win in Atlanta over Nebraska after coming out of Wednesday’s game with lower-leg pain.
He collected five points, seven rebounds, two assists and a block in 22 minutes, the sixth time in nine games that he’s scored six points or fewer. Kessler leads the SEC in blocks at 3.3 per game.
On Friday, the NCAA placed Auburn (8–1) on probation for four years and suspended Coach Bruce Pearl for two games but didn’t give the Tigers a postseason ban since they self-imposed one last season.
Siena guard Andrew Platek missed his second consecutive game, the Saints’ 72–59 Saturday win at Holy Cross, with what has been reported to be an Achilles tendon injury. He’s expected to be out at least another two weeks.
Brandon Huffman had eight points and seven rebounds in Jacksonville State’s 66–52 loss at VCU on Wednesday night.
Sunday night at 7 o’clock on ACC Network, Monmouth — with Coach King Rice and center Walker Miller — play at Pittsburgh. Miller averages 14.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game and has 11 blocks for the 7–2 Hawks.
How six former Tar Heels did
Garrison Brooks, Mississippi State center
66–63 Saturday loss vs. Colorado State in Fort Worth, Texas — Started; 36 minutes, 15 points, 6–14 FG, 3–6 3FG, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, -2
Season statistics — 9 games, 9 starts, 11.4 points, 48.3 FG%, 40% 3FG%, 75% FT%, 7.1 rebounds; season totals of 4 assists, 5 blocks, 2 steals
Up next — 8 p.m. Tuesday vs. Georgia State, ESPN+; 6 p.m. Friday vs. Furman, SEC Network
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Brandon Huffman, Jacksonville State forward/center
66–52 Wednesday loss at VCU — Started; 22 minutes, 8 points, 4–8 FG, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 1 steal
Season statistics — 8 games, 8 starts, 9.4 points, 55.1 FG%, 63.6 FT%, 6.3 rebounds; season totals of 2 assists, 16 turnovers, 8 blocks and 1 steal
Up next — 6 p.m. Monday vs. LaGrange, ESPN+; 6 p.m. Wednesday vs. FIU, ESPN+
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Walker Kessler, Auburn forward/center
99–68 Saturday win vs. Nebraska in Atlanta — Started; 22 minutes, 5 points, 2–5 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1–2 FT, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 turnover, +20
Season statistics — 9 games, 9 starts, 7.6 points, 48.4 FG%, 11.8% 3FG, 46.2 FT%, 7.0 rebounds; season totals of 9 assists, 30 blocks, 12 steals
Up next — 9 p.m. Tuesday vs. North Alabama, SEC Network; 9 p.m. Saturday at Saint Louis, CBS Sport Network
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Walker Miller, Monmouth forward
Off Saturday
Season statistics — 9 games, 9 starts, 14.4 points, 46.4 FG%, 31.3 3FG%, 87.5 FT%, 6.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 11 total blocks
Up next — 7 p.m. Sunday at Pittsburgh, ACC Network; 7 p.m. Tuesday at Yale, ESPN+
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Andrew Platek, Siena guard
72–59 Saturday win at Holy Cross — Missed second consecutive game; still recovering from reported Achilles tendon injury
Season statistics — 5 games, 3 starts, 9.0 points, 40.9 FG%, 31.3 3FG%, 4–4 FT, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Up next — 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28, at American, ESPN+; 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31 at Iona, ESPN3
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Seventh Woods, Morgan State guard
93–55 Saturday loss at Longwood — Started; 17 minutes, 7 points, 2–5 FG, 0–2 3FG, 3–4 FT, 1 assist,
Season statistics — 4 games, 1 start, 6.8 points, 56.4 FG%, 20 3FG%, 1.5 rebounds; season total of 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Up next — 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at Mount St. Mary’s; 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21 vs. James Madison
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Photo via @HailStateMBK
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