Dee Bost scored 21 points and Mississippi State, which was missing two key offensive weapons, shook off a sluggish start to down visiting Louisiana-Monroe 78-63 on Monday.

The Bulldogs (5-1) played without two key frontcourt players. Arnett Moultrie, who posted a double-double in the Bulldogs’ victory over Arizona in the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer title game, has tendinitis in both knees and Renardo Sidney has a hand injury.

Louisiana-Monroe (0-5) led 11-5 after four minutes and took a 41-39 lead on Marcelis Hansberry’s jumper with 14:13 to go in the second half. But the Bulldogs scored the next 12 points, including five points from SEC Freshman of the Week Rodney Hood to make it 51-41 with 12:30 remaining.

Despite missing Moultrie and Sidney, the Bulldogs outrebounded Louisiana-Monroe 31-24 and hit a season-high 10 3-pointers.

Hood added 20 points, and Brian Bryant scored 17 points with 10 rebounds. Bost was 4-for-9 from 3-point range.

Fred Brown scored 21 points to lead the Warhawks.