BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) Ontario Harper scored a career-high 17 points and No. 12 Mississippi State, playing without preseason All-America Lawrence Roberts, beat Fairfield 53-49 Thursday night in the first round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
Roberts, a senior forward, sat out because of a one-game suspension from the NCAA over his expenses to attend a tryout before the NBA draft.
The Bulldogs (1-0), who trailed for much of the game before taking the lead for good midway through the second half, will play Birmingham-Southern (1-0) in the second round on Friday night. Birmingham-Southern beat Alabama A&M 79-69 on Thursday.
Winsome Frazier and Gary Ervin hit consecutive 3-pointers to give the Bulldogs a 47-39 lead with 1:44 to play.
Fairfield (0-1) got within three points in the closing seconds, but Harper made one of two free throws with 3 seconds left for the final margin.
Deng Gai had 14 points and eight rebounds for Fairfield.
Mississippi State shot just 28 percent in the first half, including 1-of-8 from 3-point range, as Fairfield took a 24-20 lead. The Bulldogs struggled to get in sync early, missing their first eight shots.
The Stags' biggest lead of the game was 24-16 with 1:30 left in the first half.
