KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Even on a miserable shooting night, Tennessee coach Rick Barnes is convinced the shots will fall sooner or later.

The 18th-ranked Volunteers hit just 37 percent of their shots from the field — and 16 percent from 3-point range — but still came away with a 56-53 win over Mississippi State on Tuesday.

“If our guys are taking good shots, I can’t be concerned with how we’re shooting,” Barnes said. “The thing is: Can you win when you’re not making shots?”

Yves Pons scored 13 points to lead the Tennessee victory. He was a critical force in the first half for the Vols (11-3, 5-3 Southeastern Conference), then hit a pair of shots late in the second half when the Bulldogs (9-8, 4-5), who managed to shoot 33 percent, had the game tied.

“This was a must win,” said Pons.

In the final 2:30 of the game, with Pons fouled out, it was freshman Keon Johnson who scored four of his eight points, while taking an important charging foul, to seal the victory.

“I told our guys before the game, ‘I don’t care how you get it done, but you’ve gotta get it done,’” said Barnes.

Mississippi State was led by Iverson Molinar with 16 points and D.J. Stewart with 11. Abdul Ado had 12 rebounds and Quinten Post pulled down 10 as the Bulldogs dominated the boards, 42-30.

The Bulldogs had just three baskets in the game’s final 12 minutes.

“We just couldn’t get that one big shot when we needed it,” Mississippi State coach Ben Howland said. “We’ve played our best team defense in the last two games (losses to SEC title contenders Alabama and Tennessee). We had a chance to win them both on the road.”

After leading by three at halftime, Tennessee struggled to weather Mississippi State’s second-half rally. Midway through the second half, the Bulldogs went ahead on an inside basket from Ado, 41-38. The lead didn’t last long as Pons answered with a pair of baskets.

Tennessee’s 26-23 halftime lead was the product of an early spurt by the Vols.

Eight minutes into the game, Mississippi State had scored just four points. Pons had five points and Tennessee gained a 15-4 advantage.

Then, in the final 10 minutes of the first half, the Vols managed just two field goals.

Stewart led the Bulldogs’ recovery by scoring nine points. Mississippi State tied the game at 20 with just over five minutes to play when Ado scored from down low.

Three free throws by Tennessee freshman Jaden Springer, who was back after missing the last two games with an ankle injury, then a 3-pointer by Santiago Vescovi gave the Vols some breathing room.