Stakes high for Alabama, Mississippi State finale
By By Tony Krausz/assistant sports editor
March 6, 2004
Mississippi State University will be shooting for something today that it hasn't done on the basketball court in over 40 years win the Southeastern Conference championship outright.
The No. 5-ranked Bulldogs (24-2, 13-2 SEC) clinched a share of the conference crown Tuesday with a 105-91 win over Auburn.
MSU holds a one-game lead over Kentucky (22-4, 12-3 SEC), which kept its championship hopes alive with an 84-65 win over South Carolina on Wednesday, entering the final weekend of the regular season.
In order to claim the program's first outright SEC title since the 1962-63 season, the Bulldogs will need to defeat Alabama. MSU can also claim the outright title if Kentucky falls to Florida on Sunday.
MSU's chances of picking up a win in the final game on the road looks pretty good, considering the Bulldogs have gone 7-0 on the road in SEC play this season.
A chance to hold the SEC championship by themselves isn't the only thing motivating the Bulldogs going into the final game of the regular season. MSU is also looking to avenge one of the two losses the team suffered this season when it meets Alabama (16-10, 8-7 SEC).
The Crimson Tide dealt the Bulldogs a 77-73 loss on Feb. 21 in Humphrey Coliseum.
While Alabama is not playing for a championship today, the Tide has an extra motivating factor of its own entering the contest.
Thanks to a late surge, Alabama has its sites set on an at-large berth into the NCAA tournament. The Tide have won five of their last six games.
MSU is set to tip off against Alabama at 2 p.m. today. The game will be televised on the Jefferson Pilot network.
Ole Miss limps into the final game of the season against an opponent equally as scarred by a tough 2003-04 campaign Arkansas.
The Rebels and the Razorbacks hold identical 12-14 overall records and 4-11 marks in SEC play. Ole Miss and Arkansas are tied for last place in the SEC Western Division with Auburn (13-13, 4-11 SEC). However, whichever team wins today's game will likely be finish in fourth in the SEC West.
Both teams also share the unfavorable distinction of not winning a conference road game this season. Tennessee is also 0-7 on the road in SEC play.
Ole Miss enter the game coming off a disheartening 58-45 loss to LSU on Wednesday.
The Rebels held the Tigers to just 10 first-half points, but LSU outscored Ole Miss 48-24 in the second half to take the win. It was the Rebels' fifth straight loss.
Arkansas has lost its last two games, and the Razorbacks have won just one game in their last seven tries. Arkansas fell to Alabama 72-68 in overtime to close its home schedule on Wednesday.
The University of Southern Mississippi will attempt to close the regular season with a pair of wins.
The Golden Eagles (13-13, 6-9 Conference USA), who have already clinched a spot in the C-USA, 12-team tournament, snapped a three-game skid with a 70-60 win over Tulane on Wednesday.
USM will go for its second straight victory when its faces East Carolina (12-13, 4-11 C-USA) at 4 p.m. today at home.
Mississippi Valley State (21-6, 15-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) wraps up regular-season play with a 7:30 road game tonight.
The Delta Devils, who have won the SWAC regular-season championship, travel to play Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-25, 1-16 SWAC).
Jackson State (11-15, 9-8 SWAC) ends a busy final week with an 8 p.m. road game against Alabama State (11-14, 9-7 SWAC) on Saturday.
The Tigers will be playing their third game this week when they meet Alabama State. Jackson State fell to Alabama A&M on Thursday, and the Tigers defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 74-58 on Monday.
Alcorn State (8-17, 7-9 SWAC) caps its season with a home game against Prairie View A&M (7-18, 7-9 SWAC). The game is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Braves enter the game off a 73-56 win over Texas Southern on Thursday.
