Dogs look to bite Rebs again
By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Feb. 6, 2004
Mississippi State University will plays its first basketball game of the season with the squad's newly acquired No. 7 ranking.
The Bulldogs (18-1, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) moved into the top 10 of both the Associated Press and the coach's poll last Monday.
After having the week off, MSU will put its ranking and perfect record against Western Division foes on the line against in-state rival Ole Miss (11-8, 3-5 SEC) at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Humphrey Coliseum.
The Bulldogs rallied to overcome a 10-point deficit in their first meeting with the Rebels this season on Jan. 7 in Oxford. It was MSU's fourth straight win over Ole Miss.
With eight minutes left and MSU trailing 49-39, the Bulldogs went on a 16-1 run in a six minute span to grab a 61-54 win over the Rebels, but Rick Stansbury is not taking any thing for granted in the rematch.
Ole Miss appeared to be building momentum heading into the in-state rematch with MSU.
The Rebels scored a surprising victory over South Carolina last Saturday, but they fell on the road against Georgia last Wednesday.
MSU will be paying close attention to how healthy Rebels forward Justin Reed on the court in the rematch.
Reed is the Rebels' leading scorer, averaging 19.1 points per game, and he is tied for first in the SEC in scoring, with Tennessee's Scooter McFadgon. The Ole Miss senior scored 19 points against Georgia.
MSU comes into the contest with plenty of offensive fire power of its own. Headlined by transfer forward Lawrence Roberts' 16.6 points per game and guard Timmy Bowers' 15.8 points per game, the Bulldogs are the third most prolific offense in the conference.
The game between MSU and Ole Miss will be televised on Fox Sports Net.
The University of Southern Mississippi (11-8, 4-4 Conference USA) has the weekend off. The Golden Eagles have produced their first in-conference road winning streak in nearly three years with a 75-72 win in triple overtime against Houston last Tuesday.
In Southwestern Athletic Conference play around Mississippi, the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State will try to rebound from their second conference loss of the season at home against Alabama State. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m.
MVSU (13-6, 7-2 SWAC), which is tied for first place in the conference with Jackson State, fell to Grambling State at home last Monday.
JSU (9-9, 7-2 SWAC) is coming off a win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and the Tigers will host Alcorn State at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Alcorn State (5-13, 4-5 SWAC) lost it last contest to Texas-Pan American on the road last Monday.
