MSU in full stride as UGA approaches

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Jan. 23, 2004
Forget the heartbreaking loss at the hands of then-No. 5 Kentucky. Put aside the grumblings about a weak non-conference schedule. Mississippi State University has arrived as a force in the Southeastern Conference Western Division.
The No. 17 Bulldogs (14-1, 4-1 SEC) snapped their six-game losing streak to ranked opponents with a 79-68 win over No. 17 Florida (11-4, 2-2 SEC) last Wednesday. It was also MSU's first win in Gainesville, Fla., since the 1995-96 season.
MSU dominated the boards against Florida outrebounding the Gators 39-32, and the Bulldogs outscored the host team 44-28 in the paint. Wednesday's victory capped a two-game road swing for MSU in which the squad also picked up a win over LSU on Jan. 17.
Bulldog forward Lawrence Roberts led the way against the Gators picking up his 11th double-double of the season by finishing 21 points and 14 rebounds. The transfer from Baylor is averaging 16.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
MSU returns home Saturday for a noon matchup with the other Bulldogs in the SEC Georgia (9-6, 1-3 SEC).
Georgia enters the afternoon contest ranked 10th in the SEC in scoring, averaging 69.9 points per game, and 11th in defense, allowing 68.8. MSU is fourth in scoring, with 75.7 points per game, and eighth in defense, allowing 63.7.
Georgia has proven that it can't be taken lightly. Though the team lost to Winthrop on Dec. 9, the team has knocked off then-No. 3 Georgia Tech on Jan. 3, and it recently defeated Kentucky, which is currently ranked ninth, on Jan. 17.
Georgia is led by the senior quartet of Rashad Wright, Damien Wilkins, Jonas Hayes and Chris Daniels, who are averaging 50.4 points per game combined.
Ole Miss (9-6, 1-3 SEC) stays at home on Saturday to take on Alabama (11-4, 3-1) in a game set to tip off at 5 p.m.
The Rebels are coming off their first SEC win of the season, defeating LSU 53-49 in Tad Smith Coliseum last Wednesday.
Ole Miss seniors Aaron Harper and Justin Reed led the team to its win over the Tigers. Harper tallied a game-high 22 points, and Reed chipped in 16.
The Crimson Tide enter Saturday's game riding a three-game winning streak. Alabama survived a scare against Georgia last Wednesday. Tide guard Antoine Pettway hit a three-pointer with 1.7 seconds left in the game to seal the road win.
Alabama may have won the game against Georgia, but the team took a blow to its roster. Tide leading scorer Earnest Shelton suffered a knee injury diving for a loose ball in the first half.
Alabama coach Mark Gottfried said there is no time table for when the team will get Shelton, who is averaging 15.5 points per game, back in the line up.
Though the Tide will be without Shelton, Alabama will still bring plenty of firepower to Tad Smith. Forward Kennedy Winston is averaging 15.1 points per game, and forward Chuck Davis has tallied 11.8 per game.
The University of Southern Mississippi (9-6, 2-2 Conference USA) will host a wounded bear in the No. 6-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats (13-1, 4-1 C-USA) at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Cincinnati fell to No. 5 Louisville last Wednesday 93-66, after which Bearcats coach Bob Huggins admonished his team.
USM had the week off, after picking up an 86-61 win over then-No. 21 Marquette on Jan. 16.
In the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Alcorn State (3-10, 2-4 SWAC) hosts Alabama State (3-11, 1-4 SWAC); Jackson State (7-8, 5-1 SWAC) entertains Grambling (4-12, 2-4 SWAC); and Mississippi Valley State University (11-4, 5-0 SWAC) will travel to Houston to take on Texas Southern (7-8, 3-2 SWAC). All three games are scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m.