JACKSON — Mississippi State guard Dee Bost was ready for prime time. Renardo Sidney was not so much.

The Bulldogs had plenty of other weapons and once they got going, Belhaven (6-3) had little chance.

Mississippi State (7-2) won an exhibition game at the Mississippi Coliseum, 101-76.

Bost scored 26 points. He missed his first three shots, but heated up late in the first half to spur the Bulldogs.

Bost is still ineligible to play in real games until the Bulldogs’ Southeastern Conference opener against Alabama. Sidney will get to play Saturday against Virginia Tech in the Bahamas.

Ravern Johnson, who sat out Tuesday night’s game against Alabama State, led the Bulldogs with 29 points. Sidney, who made his debut, after battling the NCAA for 18 months, finished with 10 points and six rebounds. Kodi Augustus had 11 points.

“I really thought I was going to get 30 and 20,” Sidney said. “But I cramped up early on.”

Johnson, who has started all but one game, was impressive and is glad State’s five games in five days stretch is over.

“The toughest thing was getting up at 8 every morning,” Johnson said. “Games are fun. We took a big punch early in the game, but we responded. We got it going on defense and made shots.”

Bost said he go back to work in Starkville as the Bulldogs travel to the Bahamas on Saturday and then take a three-game trip to the Hawaiian islands.

“I have my schedule,” Bost said. “I will root for them on as they tour across the seas.”

Belhaven got an impressive game from New Orleans native Rob Wallace. The Belhaven guard led all scorers with 31 points.

“Rob can explode on people,” Belhaven coach Tom Kelsey said.

Former Vicksburg High standout Jaybri Williams got some minutes late in the contest. He scored three points and grabbed one rebound.

For 18 minutes, the most impressive player on the floor was Belhaven’s Rob Wallace. The senior guard scored 21 points during the 18-minute span. At one point, the Blazers held a 12-point lead.

The Bulldogs gradually cut into the lead and, with 2:20 left in the half, they took their first lead on a 3-pointer by Bost. The basket ignited a 10-point run fueled by State’s superior athleticism and a switch to a matchup zone.

Sidney had a tough opening half in his first action in Mississippi State uniform. It took until the 14 minute mark before Sidney scored on a made free throw. In the half, Sidney had six points on 2 for 6 shooting and two rebounds.

The Bulldogs built a 16-point lead into the second half and then cleared the bench in the final two minutes.