The last time Mississippi State finished the season with a 10-6 record in the SEC was 1996. That year they made it to the Final Four. The Bulldogs are 10-6 again this year as they knocked off South Carolina 64-57 on Saturday to earn second place in the Western Division. Mario Austin scored 19 to lead the Bulldogs as they head into the SEC Tournament winners eight of their last ten and ranked eleventh in the latest RPI rankings. Mississippi State was coming into the game against South Carolina one game ahead of Ole Miss for the Western Division second seed. A win meant a first-round bye for the Bulldogs in the SEC Tournament and a possible rematch with Florida in the second round. With ferocious defense and a great second half shooting performance, Mississippi State took control of the game down the stretch to pull off the win holding South Carolina to 32 percent shooting in the second half.
Austin and Ontario Harper were the only Bulldogs to score in double figures as Harper scored ten alongside Austin’s 19. Harper was 2 for 2 behind the arc including one that put State up 59-57 late in the game. Austin was 9 of 11 from the foul line and had nine rebounds. He got into foul trouble midway through the second half and had to sit the bench for more than nine minutes before coming back and making two clutch free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Timmy Bowers came off the bench and scored nine while SEC assist leader Derrick Zimmerman scored eight and added five assists. Seniors Marckell Patterson and Michael Gholar combined for seven in the win. After shooting 32 percent in the first half, the Bulldogs bounced back shooting 55 percent in the second half, outscoring the Gamecocks 43-29. State had 14 assists while giving up 17 turnovers.
Mississippi State’s defense shut out the Gamecocks from behind the arc as they were 0 for 19 for the game. Rolando Howell led South Carolina scoring 24 and grabbing eight rebounds.
Chuck Eidson scored 10 and had six assists and six rebounds in the loss.
With the win, it is State’s first season since the Final Four year of 1995-96 to win three SEC games on the road. Mississippi State will face the winner of the Auburn-Florida game on Friday. Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m.