For the second day in a row, the Bulldogs won a game most did not expect them to win.
Mississippi State found a way to hold Vanderbilt to nearly 20 points fewer than their season average, and beat the Commodores 62-52.
Head coach Rick Stansbury said Barry Stewart was a big reason for the victory.
“I can tell you this,” he said. “It goes unnoticed sometimes: There’s not a better defensive two guard in this league than Barry Stewart.”
Stewart scored a team-high 14 points against the Commodores, and he held freshman All-SEC guard John Jenkins to only seven points.
Vandy head coach Kevin Stallings said he was immensely impressed with Stewart.
“When you watch him on film he’s a very good defensive player,” he said. “He’s underrated. Jarvis [Varnado] gets all the credit for their defense, but he’s an excellent perimeter defender.”
With their NCAA Tournament hopes on the line all weekend, Stewart said he is not really sure what has made the Dawgs play so well.
“The past two years you can see a lot of energy out of everybody,” he said. “I don’t know what it is about this team but when our backs are against the wall we’re at our best.”
Stansbury said solid play off the bench was one of the keys.
“Bench was good for us again two days in a row,” he said. “We probably haven’t been this consistent all year long with that. You can’t win it with five guys.”
Phil Turner was a catalyst for MSU off the bench, scoring 10 of his 11 points in the first half to help build the lead for the Bulldogs.
That lead, however, was almost lost as the Commodores made a run in the last few minutes, a similar scene to the close call the Dawgs had against Florida.
“It’s much better than having no leads at the start,” Stansbury said. “They’re quality teams. They’re gonna make runs at us. Depth is always a concern, fatigue is always a concern. Both nights they’ve done it we’ve held them off.”
With the win MSU advances to the Championship Game of the SEC Tournament, where they will face Kentucky at noon on Sunday. Varnado said he cannot wait to face the Wildcats again, after losing a controversial game in overtime at The Hump during the regular season.
“They’re one of the best teams in the country,” he said. “When they came to our place we had them and it slipped out of her hands. We want this rematch and we’ll be up for it.”
Stewart said it is a rematch he wanted, as well, but he wants it more for Varnado, who was limited during the first game because of foul trouble, and Ravern Johnson, who was suspended for the Kentucky game.
“I’m excited,” he said. “We wanted this game. I’m excited for two guys that didn’t get to play much, and that’s Ravern and Jarvis.”
The ramifications of this win on the Dawgs’ NCAA chances are yet to be determined, but Stansbury said this game could go a long way in helping MSU’s chances.
“What makes it a special win for us is we know we just beat a very good basketball team that’s always as prepared as any team you’ll go against,” he said.