Senior Dee Bost scored 23 points and handed out six assists as host Mississippi State defeated Eastern Kentucky 76-66 in the 2K Sports Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.

Bost, a preseason All-SEC First Team selection, nailed 4 of 8 3-pointers and moved 59 assists shy of Derrick Zimmerman’s school record of 514 set from 2000-03.

Junior Arnett Moultrie, a 6-11 transfer from UTEP, added 13 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks for Mississippi State. The bigger Bulldogs outrebounded the Colonels 40-27.

The Bulldogs improved to 11-3 in openers under coach Rick Stansbury. They led 33-27 at the break.

The Colonels, who returned two starters from last year’s 15-16 team, hung close thanks to 13 points from Joshua Jones and 12 from Timmy Knipp. The duo combined to hit 7 of 13 from beyond the arc.