Zimmerman sinks Rebels, 58-57
By By Danny P. Smith / special to The Star
Jan. 30, 2003
OXFORD It's nothing Mississippi State's Derrick Zimmerman hasn't done before against his older brother Dale Jr.
With six seconds remaining in Wednesday's game against Ole Miss, Zimmerman drove the length of the court, penetrated into the lane and converted the layup with 1.7 seconds left to give the Bulldogs a 58-57 victory over the Rebels at Tad Smith Coliseum Wednesday night.
Mississippi State head coach Rick Stansbury said Zimmerman executed the play exactly how it needed to be.
Instead of feeling sorry for themselves about possibly losing another close game when Ole Miss took a 57-56 lead on Emmanuel Wade's basket and free throw at the six-second mark, the Bulldogs found a way to win a basketball game on the road.
Mississippi State, ranked No. 21 by The Associated Press, improved their records to 13-4 overall and 3-3 in the Southeastern Conference. The Rebels fell to 12-5 overall and 3-3 in the league.
After losing the first three games of the conference schedule, including a tough 68-62 decision at Alabama in overtime, Stansbury said getting a win at a tough place like the Rebels' house is big. The Bulldogs had not won in Oxford since 2000.
But it's a credit to our kids because we bounced back, kept working and kept believing and that's not easy to do.
tremendously."
Mississippi State had a 33-30 lead at halftime and increased the margin to 43-34 with 15:57 left in the game, but Ole Miss came back to take a 48-47
lead at the 7:10 mark on a 3-point field goal by Aaron Harper, then at 57-56 on Wade's play.
There was no quit in either instance by the Bulldogs. "I think we're learning how to play in the second half," said Mississippi State guard Timmy Bowers. "If we come out and continue to get stops on the defensive end in the second half and make shots on the offensive end, we'll be fine."
Austin led the Bulldogs with 16 points, while Bowers added 15 and Zimmerman had 12.
Mississippi State will remain on the road when it travels to Georgia Saturday, but according to Wednesday's hero, confidence will not be a problem.
