The Rick’s Rowdies wore hats and sang, while Mario Austin took a
breath and extinguished Alabama’s flickering NCAA flame.
The spirit group gathered with signs and sang “Happy Birthday”
to the all-conference center and Alabama native before the game.
Austin (14 points, five rebounds) sank two free throws midway
through the first half to put Mississippi State (18-6, 8-5 SEC) up
15-14 over the twin state rival Crimson Tide (15-9, 5-8 SEC).
“I’ve had a few (good birthday presents) in my time, but this is
a great one,” Austin said. “It was real special for me.”
State never trailed thereafter, but nursed a 24-22 lead after a
first half that was marred with more fouls than field goals and 18
combined turnovers. MSU double-teamed Erwin Dudley, who had
averaged 20 points in his last five games. Dudley had two points,
two turnovers, and two airballs at the break.
MSU forced eight turnovers, held every ‘Bama player besides
Dudley scoreless and scored on 12 of their 14 possessions in the
next 11:59 to build a 51-35 lead.
“Dudley is a terrific player,” MSU head coach Rick Stansbury
said. “We didn’t want him to beat us. Those other four guys were
shooting around 30 percent from the three-point line. You take your
chances with that.”
Dudley finished with game highs in points (17) and rebounds
(seven).
Instrumental in State’s offensive explosion were back-to-back
threes from Ontario Harper and a breakaway dunk that jostled the
net. Harper (12 points) wore knee-high socks for the first time, a
la teammate Michal Ignerski (six rebounds), and credited defense
with sparking his offense.
“Harper came into the huddle and said, ‘Coach, I’m feeling it,'”
Stansbury explained. “We’ve seen him make those kinds of
shots.”
“At shoot-around I was in rhythm and comfortable with my shot,
and then I got those breakaway dunks,” Harper said. “Those were
nice, guys don’t see me (dunk) that much.”
Up by 17 with under eight minutes, the game appeared to be a
piece of cake for the ‘Dawgs. Just as State was going to easily
celebrate Austin’s 21st in front of 9,331, the Tide flared like
those trick candles for 14 unanswered points to make it a
frighteningly close 54-51 game.
“Give them some credit; they made some shots,” Stansbury
said.
“I don’t think we relaxed,” Derrick Zimmerman (six assists)
said. “We just missed some easy shots and they made some big
shots.” State countered by finding Austin down low for the only
Bulldog field goal in the final 7:35 and held on for the 59-55 nod,
despite missing four of seven free throws in the last 51
seconds.
Branden Vincent stuck with Mo Williams and deflected and
rebounded the Jackson native’s shot for a crucial stop.
With the MSU win and LSU’s 94-63 drumming of Auburn, the ‘Dawgs
sit alone atop the SEC West with three games left.