After the numbness from the Alabama game wore off, it was time for the Bulldogs to get back to work. But what did they work on? Rebounding? Shooting? Passing?
Nope. None of the above.
Toughness. That was the focus in Mississippi State’s 73-65 win over South Carolina (10-6,2-3 SEC).
“We talked about our toughness during practice all week, and we had to find that to win the game,” said MSU reserve guard Dietric Slater. “I think we stepped our toughness up and now we just have to carry that over to the rest of our games.”
The Bulldogs’ biggest test came when All-American Lawrence Roberts picked up his fourth foul at the 12:12 mark with the game tied at 45.
After last Tuesday’s game at Alabama, how Mississippi State (16-4, 4-2 SEC) would react with their best player on the bench was up in the air. South Carolina Coach Dave Odom thought his team had the advantage with Roberts sidelined.
“I thought maybe we could start taking advantage of his absence, but what happened was that Mississippi State tightened the reins a little bit,” said Odom. “They made almost no mistakes at the point.”
The Bulldogs went on a 20-11 run, while Roberts cheered from the bench. Even more important for the Bulldogs than the scoring was the defensive pressure applied during the eight – minute stretch. MSU forced three turnovers and limited the Gamecocks to just three made field goals.
The weight of the burden caused by Roberts’s exit was evenly distributed on the shoulders of several Bulldogs. Four Bulldogs scored during the run, including eight points from Jamall Edmondson.
“That (stepping up without Roberts) was really big for us tonight,” said MSU senior Shane Power. “We depend on Lawrence a lot and he does a lot for the team, but it was huge how everyone else stepped up tonight and carried the load.”
Toughness was stressed from the announcement of the starting lineups. Edmondson, who had started the three games since Winsome Frazier’s injury, was replaced by veteran utility man Ontario Harper. Harper (6-foot-5) also added eight inches to the MSU starting five. He finished the game with seven points and eight rebounds.
“I made a decision to get my experience and get my toughness on the floor to start the basketball game,” said Stansbury. “That is the reason why we went with Harper. I think his experience and toughness showed.”
The change put Harper at the small forward and moved Power to the shooting guard. The move allowed Power to use a height advantage to open up his shooting game.
“I like the two (shooting guard). I think the two gives me an advantage,” said Power. “I can use my size and strength on some of the other two guards. I felt a little undersized at the three (small forward).”
The lineup change proved to be a positive from the start of the first half. MSU opened on a 10-4 run in the first four minutes of the first half.
But it wasn’t all easy for the Bulldogs. South Carolina responded with a 7-0 run of there own to go up 10-11 at the 13 – minute mark. From that point on neither team led by more than five points, and the game was tied on five occasions during the last 6:20. The teams went into the locker rooms at halftime tied at 31.
MSU came out in the second half a more determined, tougher team. They scored the first points of the half on a lay-up by Marcus Campbell and never relinquished the lead. Though it wasn’t a dominating half, (South Carolina pulled within one point eight times and tied the score once), the Bulldogs stepped up when it was needed.
Edmondson hit two critical free throws with 1:34 remaining in the game to put the Bulldogs up by eight and clinch the game for State.
Mississippi State was once again led by Roberts, who had 17 points and 12 rebounds, but Marcus Campbell also posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards. It was Campbell’s second double-double of the season. Also scoring in double figures for the Bulldogs were Edmondson and Power with 11 and Slater with 10.
“This may have been as balanced as a team effort and victory we have had in a while,” said Stansbury “When you look at the stats, you have five guys in double figures and you have three guys dominating those backboards.”
South Carolina was led by Tre’ Kelly with 22 points and Carlos Powell with 18.