MSU gets to rest before Tide rolls in
By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Feb. 16, 2004
The Mississippi State University men's basketball team will have an entire week to bask in the glory of the school's first win in Fayetteville, Ark., since 1971.
The No. 6 Bulldogs, who will probably move into the Top 5 today, put to rest their demons in Bud Walton Arena on Saturday, scoring a 77-70 win over the Arkansas Razorback (11-11, 3-8 Southeastern Conference).
The game was MSU's eighth straight win and sixth consecutive SEC road victory. The Bulldogs improved to 21-1 overall and 10-1 in the SEC, giving them a 2 1/2ngame lead over Kentucky and LSU in the conference standings.
Most importantly, though, the win ended talk of the Bulldogs' struggles in the northwest corner of Arkansas.
The Bulldogs will have a full week to prepare for their next contest, a home game against Alabama. MSU is set to host the Crimson Tide at 3 p.m. Saturday.
MSU's long break between games is sorely needed, as four of the team's five starters logged at least 40 minutes of playing time against Arkansas.
It will also give Bulldogs reserve guard Gary Ervin time to make sure he is physically healthy. The freshman point guard was sidelined with 11:16 to go against the Razorbacks.
There will be no long rest for Ole Miss (12-9, 4-6 SEC), as the Rebels close the final three weeks of the season with six games.
Of course, the team from Oxford may not want to slow down after posting a 72-68 win over Auburn (12-9, 3-7 SEC), thanks in large part to a career-high 30 points by the Rebels' Aaron Harper.
The Rebels take on a pair of Eastern Division foes this week.
Ole Miss travels to Tennessee for a 6:30 p.m. game against the Volunteers (12-9, 4-6 SEC) on Wednesday.
The Rebels close the week with a home game against Florida (9-4, 5-5 SEC) at 7 p.m. Saturday. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
The University of Southern Mississippi will try to rebound from its 68-60 loss last Friday to South Florida (7-14, 1-9 Conference USA) with a pair of home games this week.
The Golden Eagles (11-10, 4-6 C-USA) host Houston (8-14, 2-9 C-USA) in a midweek game at Reed Green Coliseum.
USM defeated Houston 75-72 in a road game on Feb. 3. The Eagles are set to tip off against the Cougars at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
USM closes the week against Charlotte (15-6, 7-3 C-USA), which is coming off a week in which it stunned Louisville 77-71 but lost to St. Louis 46-46.
The Eagles are set to tip off against the 49ers at 4 p.m. Saturday.
In Southwestern Athletic Conference action around the state, Mississippi Valley State (16-6, 10-2 SWAC) improved its conference lead to two games over Jackson State, with a 79-52 road win over Alcorn State last Saturday.
Jackson State (10-11, 8-4 SWAC), which was one game behind the Delta Devils entering last weekend, feel to Prairie View A&M (5-15, 5-6 SWAC) last Saturday.
MVSU will continue to try and improve its standing in the league with a home game against Southern (9-12, 6-6 SWAC) at 7:30 tonight.
The Delta Devils close the week with another home contest, taking on Texas Southern (10-11, 6-5 SWAC) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Jackson State will get first crack at Texas Southern this week, as the Tigers take on the team for the Lone Star State on the road at 7:30 p.m. today.
The Tigers stay on the road following today's game to take on Grambling State (7-15, 5-7 SWAC) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Alcorn State (7-19, 6-6 SWAC) hits the road for a 7:30 p.m. game today against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-20, 1-11 SWAC), and the Braves close the week with a road game against Alabama State (8-13, 6-6 SWAC) at 8 p.m. Saturday.
