Bulldogs grab top spot in West
By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Feb. 28, 2003
STARKVILLE Mississippi State University (18-6, 8-5 Southeastern Conference) now sits atop of the Southeastern Conference West Division.
With the Bulldogs' 59-55 victory over Alabama,and LSU's 94-63 rout of Auburn, MSU captured first place in the West.
MSU now has the chance to win its first divisional title since 1995-96.
Next up for MSU
The Bulldogs travel to Fayetteville for their final game against Arkansas this year.
MSU dominated the Razorbacks (8-16, 3-10 SEC) in the two squads' first meeting this season.
The Bulldogs blew out the Razorbacks 84-54 at Humphrey Coliseum on Feb. 8.
The 30-point win is MSU's largest margin of victory in SEC play this year.
But Stansbury is not going to take Arkansas lightly given MSU's 1-12 record at Bud Walton Arena.
Alabama's Williams' Magnolia woes
Crimson Tide guard Maurice "Mo" Williams hasn't had the best of games in his home state.
The 6-foot-1 Jackson native entered Wednesday's contest at Humphrey Coliseum averaging a team-high 15.6 points per game, but he could only tally 10 points in the loss.
Williams has averaged only eight points in four games in the Magnolia State two at Mississippi State and two at Mississippi and Alabama has lost all four.
Solid birthday performance for Austin
MSU center Mario Austin celebrated his 21st birthday with a team-high 14-point performance in Wednesday's win.
The 6-foot-9 Bulldog also notched the team's only field goal in the final 7 1/2 minutes of the game.
Austin came into the contest against the Tide averaging 16.9 points per game, but Alabama's sagging defense kept the big man in check most of the game.
The birthday cake may have tasted a little sweeter after the game, but Austin said his teammate's were not even thinking about putting candles on the frosted treat during the contest.
"We just wanted to get a win," Austin said. "I know it was my birthday, but I just wanted to come out and do the little things to hopefully get a win and we did."
