[Tuck4Bama]

NEW ORLEANS — Anthony Dixon's workmanlike attitude finally paid off in the second half of Mississippi State's 38-17 win over Tulane here Saturday night.

"I just felt like if I kept on pounding, sooner or later it'd break open," said Dixon, MSU's tailback.

Dixon ran 27 times for 131 yards and two touchdowns, the carries and the yardage both career-highs. Ninety-one of those yards - and both touchdowns - came in the second half, during which MSU pulled away from the Green Wave and never looked back.

A week after not getting into the running game as much as State would've liked, Dixon's play proved key to the game plan.

He charged forward 27 yards down the left side for a momentum-building third quarter score, then ran 7 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter that put the game out of reach.

Dixon gets 27 carries, produces 2 key TDs