The SEC tournament began the same way that the regular season ended for Mississippi State and LSU.

Quinndary Weatherspoon scored a game-high 19 points as the 12th-seeded Bulldogs (16-15) defeated the 13th-seeded Tigers (10-21) 79-52 in the first game of the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Wednesday night at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

Weatherspoon scored 18 points to lead the way as MSU beat LSU 88-76 in the regular-season finale for both teams last Saturday in Starkville, Miss. The Bulldogs also beat the Tigers 95-78 on Jan. 4 in Baton Rouge, La.

MSU will face fifth-seeded Alabama in the second game of the SEC tournament schedule Thursday.

Weatherspoon was joined in double figures by three teammates. Tyson Carter had 18 points, Xavien Stapleton 13 and Lamar Peters 10.

Skylar Mays led the Tigers with 13 points and Antonio Blakeney had 11. LSU made 1-of-22 3-pointers.

The game was believed to be the final one for Johnny Jones as the Tigers head coach. The Times-Picayune reported that Jones would be fired at the end of this season, his fifth season as head coach of his alma mater.

Mays scored six quick points as LSU cut MSU's 12-point halftime lead to four points early in the second half.

Peters made a 3-pointer and Weatherspoon converted a three-point play as the Bulldogs built the lead to 10 and it grew to 62-46 when Stapleton made a 3-pointer.

MSU didn't score a basket during the first five minutes, but LSU could only build an 8-2 lead. That quickly evaporated as Carter made two 3-pointers.

The score was tied five more times before the Tigers took their final lead at 25-24.

Weatherspoon made consecutive baskets to start a 13-0 run that gave the Bulldogs a 37-25 halftime lead.