It was Kentucky’s day to celebrate but Mississippi State’s day
to win respect.
The No. 2 Wildcats (22-3, 12-0 Southeastern Conference) quickly
pounced on the No. 19 Bulldogs (17-6, 7-5 SEC) and led 32-13 with
6:23 remaining in the first half. The Dawgs bit back, but the Cats
clawed their 16th win in a row with a 70-62 victory amidst the
commemoration of UK’s basketball centennial and a national
television audience.
“We have a lot to be proud of,” MSU head coach and Kentucky
native Rick Stansbury said. “We had a chance to fold tent and be
blown out when we got down 19.”
The Cats sank 60.7 percent of their shots in the first half, but
State outscored UK 15-6 to come within 10 at intermission on
back-to-back treys from Timmy Bowers (13 points).
“(Cutting it to 10) gave us a chance,” Bowers said. “That is the
type of team we are. We never give up.”
UK opened the second half with a three from Gerald Fitch, and
ballooned its lead to 17 with 12:47 remaining. State used a
tenacious man-to-man D, got six of Michal Ignerski’s 11 points
unanswered and then it was Mario Austin, Mario Austin and Mario
Austin to trim the gap to 60-55 with 5:14 to go.
“I was on the bench when we got down 17, and I knew that when I
got back in, I needed and wanted to make some plays,” Poland natvie
Ignerski said.
The UK fans that craved revenge since MSU won last year’s
contest 74-69 in overtime, were eerily silent as d����j����
vu crept into their minds. However, five would be as close as the
Dawgs could get.
“Our team didn’t go away; I think we earned respect from them,”
Stansbury said. “I thought that we really controlled the flow in
the second half. We did a great job down the stretch of keeping
them from executing their offense.”
Despite holding the Cats scoreless for the next 2:41, MSU missed
a three, a lay-up and the front end of a one-and-one, along with
committing two turnovers.
“We didn’t worry when we got down–we just didn’t make enough
plays down the stretch,” Austin (20 points and eight rebounds)
said.
“I felt that our guys were fouled and pulled out of position on
those turnovers,” Derrick Zimmerman (four assists) said. “You can
see that if you look at the tape.”
The Wildcats got 18 points from Keith Bogans, 14 from Cliff
Hawkins, 10 from Marquis Estill and 23 from the bench.
State entered the game atop the SEC in rebounding margin at
+9.1, but UK won the battle of the boards 37-25, becoming only the
third team to out-rebound MSU this season.
The Bulldogs will return to Humphrey Coliseum for a 7 p.m.
Wednesday showdown with divisional foe Alabama (15-8, 5-7 SEC).
Austin, an Alabama native, plans on celebrating his 21st
birthday by defeating the Crimson Tide.
“He’s gonna be ready, and we want payback,” Bowers said.
State squandered the biggest lead (17 points) in a loss in the
Stansbury era with a 68-62 overtime decision in Tuscaloosa on Jan.
15. Since then, ‘Bama has experienced low tide, losing six of their
last nine.
“It’s gonna be big,” Austin said smiling. “I’m looking forward
to it.”
It’s his party, and 10,500 are invited.