JACKSON, Miss. -- Lawrence Roberts had his best rebounding game of the season. Then, he played the second half.
Roberts finished with 22 points and a season-high 20 rebounds to lead No. 21 Mississippi State to a 95-53 victory over Jacksonville State on Wednesday night.
The preseason All-America had 15 rebounds in the first half -- two better than his previous season-best -- for the Bulldogs (11-2), who never trailed and won their fifth straight.
Roberts, who scored at least 20 points for the third straight game, downplayed his gaudy statistics by saying he merely was following coach Rick Stansbury's flippant pre-game instructions.
"Coach told me before the game that he wanted to see me get 15 rebounds in the first half," Roberts said. "Well, I got 'em."
Winsome Frazier had 12 points and Shane Power and Gary Ervin each added 11 for Mississippi State, which showed no signs of fatigue despite playing its third game in three cities over a five-day stretch.
"We wanted to do a good job not thinking ahead to Christmas break, and I think we did a good job of concentrating on this game," Roberts said.
The Bulldogs dominated the smaller, cold-shooting Gamecocks (4-7), beginning the game with an 18-4 run and shooting nearly 45 percent in the first half and 55 percent for the game.
Meanwhile, Jacksonville State was held to two field goals in the opening 7:24, and appeared out of sync largely because of Mississippi State's taller, high-pressure defense.
The Bulldogs led by as many as 20 points in the first half, scored 17 straight points to start the second half and led 59-28 with 14:40 remaining.
"The first five minutes of both halves is where they set the tone," Jacksonville State coach Mike LaPlante said. "They basically blew the game out."
Ervin added 10 assists and reached double figures in that category for the second straight game.
"You become a much better scorer when you look to pass first," Stansbury said.
Jacksonville State didn't have a starter who could match up with the 6-foot-9 Roberts.
"Lawrence Roberts was a man among boys on the backboards," Stansbury said. "Everything that was shot was his."
The defending Southeastern Conference player of the year surpassed his season-best of 13 rebounds set last month against Missouri-Kansas City and tied Dec. 2 against South Alabama. He was one rebound shy of his career-high, set last March against Alabama.
"He's as dominant as there is in the country," LaPlante said.
Brandon Roberts had 15 points and Dorien Brown added 13 for Jacksonville State, which lost its fifth straight, all away from Jacksonville, Ala.
"It's starting to take its toll on us a little bit," LaPlante said. "The road is just not a very friendly place."
The game was played in Jackson, the capital of Mississippi located about 140 miles southwest of the Mississippi State's main campus in Starkville.
The Bulldogs usually play one home game each season away from campus, and have won all three games they have played in Jackson since Stansbury became coach in 1998.
