Mississippi State jumped all over No. 18 Texas A&M in the first half Thursday, racing to a 20-point lead in a 69-60 victory in the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer semifinals at Madison Square Garden.

The Bulldogs (3-1) advance to Friday’s championship game against the winner of the Arizona/St. John’s semifinal later Thursday.

Guards Dee Bost and Rodney Hood each scored five points in the game’s first four minutes, with Hood’s 3-pointer giving the Bulldogs a 15-5 lead. After Texas A&M’s Kourtney Robertson made two free throws to bring the Aggies within 16-9, Mississippi State scored the next 13 points to take a 29-9 lead on Wendell Lewis’ layup with 10:50 to go.

Bost led the Bulldogs with 20 points, including a long 3-pointer with 3:17 left after Texas A&M had cut the lead to 60-52.

The Aggies (2-1) played without leading scorer Khris Middleton, who is out for the next three weeks following knee surgery. Elston Turner led the Aggies with 13 points.

Texas A&M head coach Billy Kennedy, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, made the trip and coached in his second game of the season.

Texas A&M faces the Arizona/St. John’s loser in Friday’s consolation game.