The Mississippi State men’s basketball team is moving on.
Yesterday, they took down LSU in the first round of the SEC tournament 80-77. The win was much-needed for the Bulldogs (22-10) as they try and make their case for the NCAA tournament after they have rested on the bubble for the better-part of the regular season. LSU handed MSU a humbling 78-57 loss in the regular season finale, but they were able to avenge that loss yesterday.
The Bulldogs were led in scoring by Lamar Peters with 24 points and brothers Nick & Quinndary Weatherspoon chipped in 15 points apiece. In the first half, MSU appeared as if they were on their way to a convincing win, outscoring LSU 45-29, but the Tigers fought back in the second half. The Bulldog lead was cut to just one after a 3 by LSU’s Tremont Waters with 9 seconds to go in the game, but a dunk from Quinndary sealed the win for MSU. In a tournament, head coach Ben Howland knows it’s all about winning, and not how you win.
“We came out with some great energy and had some really good ball movement in the first half. In the second half, we made a couple of mistakes there and that let them get back in the game,” Howland said. “Bottom line in a tournament is winning and advancing. We were able to do just that. Now, we get to prepare for a Tennessee team, playing as well as anybody in the nation right now.”
The Bulldogs get another chance at redemption today as they take on #13 Tennessee. The Vols beat the Bulldogs 76-54 in Starkville before the LSU game. Tip-off for this second round matchup is set for 6:00 p.m.
Ole Miss:
On Tuesday night, the Rebels took on South Carolina in the first round of the tournament and they were sent packing after an 85-84 loss. Tony Madlock’s squad battled for the full 40 minutes, and had a 5 point lead in the second half, but a 16-4 run for South Carolina saw that lead disappear. Ole Miss made a last ditch effort to save their season in the final minute, but came up short.
The Rebels (12-20) can now turn their focus to a head coaching search after a disappointing season that not many could have predicted.
Southern Miss:
The Golden Eagles were able to take down #1-seeded Middle Tennessee 71-68 in OT in the first round of the C-USA tournament. With a run to the conference tournament championship in mind, head coach Doc Sadler said that it was all about the belief that they could beat a team that many predicted to have success in March.
“There are a lot of people who believe in you, but you have to start believing you are the best basketball team. During the game today, our guys were playing loose and making shots. They beat a heck of a basketball team; a team that a lot of people picked to at least go to the sweet 16, but we have a heck of a basketball team,” Sadler said.
Cortez Edwards scored 23 crucial points for the Golden Eagles and as an upperclassman, he knows how what this win means to the program.
“It meant a lot because of how far this program has come. I’ve been here for most of it, working hard and sticking with the guys that we got,” Cortez said.
The Golden Eagles are 16-17 on the year, and their only hope to make the NCAA tournament would be to hoist the C-USA Tournament trophy.
USM is currently taking on Marshall in the semi-finals.
