AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- A new look equaled a new attitude for No. 7 Auburn.

After two straight losses -- including a 29-point blowout at Tennessee on Tuesday night -- Auburn coach Cliff Ellis told his team to clean up their appearances.

Chris Porter, who followed the directive by trimming his trademark afro late Friday night, scored 20 points and the Tigers used solid bench play to snap a two-game losing streak with a 73-57 victory Saturday over Mississippi State.

"I just want our guys to look the way their momma's and daddy's want them to," Ellis said. "Didn't hear any complaints about it, but I wasn't the guy to cross this week."

The loss to Tennessee on Tuesday was the Tigers' (17-3, 5-2 Southeastern Conference) worst defeat in three years. Ellis gave his team the day off Wednesday, then told them to clean up after Thursday's practice.

"He wanted us to tighten up the ship, told us to shave, clean up and no more braids," reserve David Hamilton said. "He wanted us to look more marketable and show people we can still play."

It worked, as the Tigers used a late second half run to win their 27th consecutive home game and beat Mississippi State (11-8, 2-4) for the eighth straight time.

"I thought we looked good today and we played the way we are capable of playing," Ellis said.

Auburn, which needed late 3-pointers from Porter and Doc Robinson to beat the Bulldogs 51-45 two weeks ago, didn't need any late heroics this time.

The Tigers led by as many as 11 points early in the second half, but Mississippi State tied it at 40 on Derrick Zimmerman's 3-pointer with 10:56 to play.

But Auburn -- sparked by reserves Mack McGadney and Reggie Sharp -- answered with a 14-4 run to take command.

"Auburn's bench guys can play, so it didn't surprise me to see how many point they made," Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury said.

McGadney started the run with a jumper, Porter forced a turnover at the other end and Sharp finished the fast break with a 12-foot jumper. After Mississippi State's Robert Jackson muscled in a layup, Robinson hit a jumper and Sharp made a 3-pointer after another Bulldog turnover.

Porter connected on a soft jumper, and after two free throws from Mississippi State's Tang Hamilton, Daymeon Fishback made a 3-pointer to give Auburn a 54-44 lead with 6:02 to play.

"You have to give Auburn credit because every time we made a run Chris Porter and Doc Robinson stepped up and made plays," Stansbury said.

Porter, who had a meaner attitude to go along with his new hairdo, successfully battled Mississippi State's Jackson all day. In the first meeting, Jackson dominated the inside game and lit Porter up for 15 points and 18 rebounds.

This time, Porter and Hamilton teamed to hold Jackson to 11 points and just three rebounds.

"I think he embarrassed us last time," said Porter, who claimed he only cut his hair because "it was time for a trim."

"We weren't going to let him do that to us again, so we worked hard to keep him outside and off the glass," Porter said.

But Mississippi State still outrebounded the Tigers 38-31, the sixth SEC team to beat Auburn under the boards this season.

"The positive thing is that we outrebounded Auburn... that's a critical stat," Stansbury said. "But we didn't make the shots."

The Bulldogs shot 39 percent for the game, 4-of-21 from 3-point range. Hamilton led Mississippi State with 18 points.

Robinson finished with 16 points for Auburn. Sharp added 12.