Bulldogs stay undefeated, next up No. 7 Kentucky
By By Tony Krausz/assistant sports editor
January 11, 2004
STARKVILLE Mississippi State University's Lawrence Roberts announced his presence in the Southeastern Conference with authority Saturday afternoon.
After scoring a modest 11 points against Ole Miss in his first SEC contest last Wednesday, Roberts tallied a game-high 29 points in the Bulldogs' 80-62 win over Arkansas at Humphrey Coliseum.
The victory pushed No. 22 MSU's record to 13-0, as the squad continues to raise the bar for most consecutive wins at the start of a season. The previous school record was 11 victories to open a season.
Roberts was virtually unstoppable for the Bulldogs against the Razorbacks, as the transfer forward shrugged off an injured shoulder two minutes into the second half.
The 6-foot-9 Houston, Texas, native snatched 11 rebounds to record his 31st career double-double and his ninth of the season.
As Roberts turned up his intensity during the game, the Bulldogs raised their defensive play in the second half.
MSU limited Arkansas to 35.5 percent shooting in the game's final 20 minutes, after the Razorbacks shot 46.2 percent in the first half.
Razorbacks forward Billy Pharis, who scored 19 points to pace Arkansas' offense, was hurt the most by the Bulldogs' defensive turnaround.
Pharis scored just one basket in the second half, a three-pointer with 11:20 left in the game, after hitting six shots from the floor in the opening half.
Arkansas' defense did its part to shut down the play of MSU's guards, holding Bowers to seven points and Winsome Frazier to nine.
But Bulldogs reserve forward Shane Power and Campbell made up for the two guards' off night. Power tallied 14 points in the win, and Campbell scored eight points and picked up 10 rebounds.
Arkansas center Rashard Sullivan scored 14 points, and Kendrick Davis added 10 in the loss.
MSU entered the break holding a 40-33 advantage over Arkansas, as Roberts and Pharis clashed for individual supremacy in the contest.
Roberts tallied 19 points and eight rebounds to pace the Bulldogs' attack in the opening half.
Pharis knocked down 6-of-8 shots in the opening 20 minutes for 15 points at the break to keep the Razorbacks in the game.
MSU appeared ready to run Arkansas out of the Coliseum in the game's opening minutes sprinting to a 19-9 lead nine minutes into the contest.
While the Razorbacks didn't roll over, the Bulldogs never let their opponent get within three-points of the lead in the first half.
MSU continues its season against No. 5-ranked Kentucky at home Tuesday. Tip off is set for 8 p.m.
