HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer took a few minutes during the third quarter to give a spirited lecture to star guard Victoria Vivians as she sat on the bench following a few bad plays.There was really no need to hurry. Breanna Richardson made sure the Bulldogs would be just fine.Richardson scored a season-high 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead No. 5 Mississippi State over Southern Mississippi 72-50 on Saturday.The performance made for two special days in a row for Richardson.Im proud of that kid, Schaefer said. We were at graduation last night. She and I didnt roll in here until 12:30 this morning. For her to come back and play after graduating last night is kind of appropriate. She really played well -- aggressive and physical underneath.Chinwe Okorie added 18 points for the Bulldogs.Mississippi State (9-0) never trailed, jumping out to a 21-6 lead by the end of the first quarter.The Bulldogs exploited their considerable size advantage in the post during the early run, with the 6-foot-1 Richardson and 6-foot-5 Okorie converting easy opportunities.Southern Miss (7-2) cut the lead to single digits a few times in the second and third quarters, but couldnt hit enough shots to make things close. Brittanny Dinkins led the Golden Eagles with 18 points.We just couldnt ever get over that hump, Southern Miss coach Joye Lee-McNelis said. But Im proud of how we fought. Weve just got to sharpen up the mental side of it so when we play these types of teams we can overcome some frustration.Mississippi State won handily despite a subpar game from Vivians, who finished with 11 points on 5 of 15 shooting. Richardson was there to pick up the slack, shooting 7 of 9 from the field.I actually shocked myself, Richardson said. I honestly didnt know I had that many points and rebounds. I just came out, felt good, got into the rhythm of the game and played hard.SCHAEFER SCOLDS DEFENSESchaefer made it clear he was disappointed in the play of Morgan William, Roshunda Johnson and Vivians, the teams three starting guards, especially on the defensive end.Its the worst defensive team Ive ever had, Schaefer said. I know we held them to 50, but our lack of commitment defensively really irritates me.NO OUTSIDE SHOTMississippi State won despite just making 1 of 11 3-point attempts. Before Saturday, the fewest 3-pointers the Bulldogs had made in a game this season was two against Texas.BIG PICTUREMississippi State: The Bulldogs continue to plow through their nonconference schedule without a loss. This wasnt Mississippi States best performance -- especially by the guards -- but the team continues to find ways to score even when the outside shots arent falling.Southern Miss: The Golden Eagles have had a lot of success so far during nonconference play, but Mississippi State was a huge step up in competition. Southern Miss had solid guard play for most of the game, but couldnt keep the Bulldogs from getting easy inside looks.UP NEXTMississippi State: The Bulldogs travel to play Arkansas-Little Rock on Tuesday.Southern Miss: Southern Miss is off for more than a week before playing California in the Puerto Rico Classic on Dec. 19.---Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAPLeBron James Shoes Outlet . Datsyuk will miss Tuesdays game against New Jersey and could be sidelined longer, while Cleary will likely miss at least the next three games. Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games. LeBron James Shoes Deals . LOUIS -- St. https://www.cheapshoeslebronjames.com/ . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. LeBron James Shoes Free Shipping . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Clearance LeBron James Shoes . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. LOS ANGELES -- Sydney McLaughlin is running with a fast crowd these days. The 16-year-old sprinter and hurdler heads to the Rio Olympics as the youngest member of the U.S. track and field team. First, though, she wants to get home, hug her dog and eat some junk food before taking on the world.McLaughlin caps a whirlwind few weeks with a stroll down the red carpet at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday night. Shes attending as winner of the girls national prep athlete of the year trophy she picked up Tuesday night.She arrived in Los Angeles directly from making her first Olympic team by finishing third in the 400-meter hurdles at the U.S. trials last Sunday in Oregon. Her time of 54.14 seconds was a world junior record.I dont think its hit me yet, she said.After mingling with some of the worlds best professional athletes, McLaughlin goes home to Dunellen, New Jersey, for a brief visit. Shes missing Gamble her cockapoo dog, whom she hasnt seen in three weeks.Her parents, Willie and Mary, are scrambling to join her in Rio.Theres no way were going to let our baby girl go to another country without us being there, said Willie, who works from home as a network engineer for AT&T. Besides, how many times do you get to see your kids in the Olympics?Mary joked, Well just be buying a lot of bug spray.Willie McLaughlin qualified for the 400-meter semifinals at the 1984 U.S. trials, but didnt make the Olympic team. Mary McLaughlin, who works at Rutgers University, is a former runner, too. The couple met at Manhattan College in New York City.We planned for it for years, Willie said of his daughters Olympic qualification, but its actually here and its hard to believe.Her sister and two brothers will watch from the couch and party at the house, Sydney joked.McLaughlin couldnt have predicted she would be in Rio. Her high school track season began with a diagnosis of mononucleosis that kept her out 1 1/2 months. Her mother had a heart attack.Every Olympian has two or three major struggles before they make it, she told the crowd at the prep awards. I didnt know if I was going to make it and somehow I did.At trials, McLaughlin had what she called a mental breakdown before her first event. She called her daad in full freak-out mode, panicked at the prospect of being a teen running against grown women.ddddddddddddHer coaches calmed her down and three races later Im an Olympian, she said.When you put her on the track, youre not running against a 16-year-old, Willie McLaughlin said. Youre running against a very talented, seasoned athlete. Thats what these women are finding out the hard way. I told her, `Theyre more scared of you than you are of them. Theyve got more to lose than you and thats the attitude you need to take into it.McLaughlin has a modest goal for her first Games.Im just going to get the experience. Theres so many more years to try again and so many more races to run, she said. I dont even think Im thinking about place or time. Im going to hang out with the girls on the team. Its kind of like vacation and work at the same time.From a dads perspective, Willie McLaughlin hopes his daughter gains confidence and hones the ability to interact and talk with anyone at the Olympics.Shes been really blessed with talent that other people simply dont have, he said.McLaughlin told Sydney that because of her track talent she can go places and do things that others cant.Dont be afraid of that, he told her. Dont be afraid of doing things new.From his perspective as a track coach, Willie is encouraging his daughter to step up her nutrition and embrace the lifestyle of a high-level athlete. That means cutting out junk food and some of the 16-year-old baggage, as he calls it.We had the boys, going to the mall, all that other stuff, he said, smiling. She needs to mature into that woman thats really going to take care of her body and take care of her instrument of success.Sydney, named for her dads favorite actor Sidney Poitier, is already showing her stuff in the nail art department. McLaughlins long fingernails were decked out in sparkling silver polish, a popular trend among female sprinters.She turns 17 on Aug. 7, days before the track competition begins in Rio. Shell be a senior this fall at Union Catholic High in Scotch Plains with some wild stories to tell. ' ' '