The Wednesday night stats from Nashville told the truth: Mississippi State dominated the Vanderbilt Commodores in every crucial aspect of the game en route to the 66-43 trouncing that gave the Bulldogs their 20th win of the season. This marks the ninth time in school history that the men’s squad has totaled that esteemed tally of 20 in the left column, and the second time in Rick Stansbury’s four seasons as head coach.
Heading into Wednesday’s action, both teams were being mentioned as potential selections for the NCAA Tournament. On Tuesday, ESPN.com listed State as a team that would make it, and Vanderbilt as a team that was “on the bubble.”
MSU’s triumph handed VU its second consecutive 66-43 home loss, and its fourth straight defeat. ‘Pop,’ goes the bubble.
State trailed 2-0 after Vandy senior Chuck Moore rattled a jumper from the wing. A lay-up by starting point guard Derrick Zimmerman then tied the game for the Bulldogs. Both teams traded baskets again to tie at four. That was the last time that anyone could use the word “even” to compare the teams.
“Our athleticism was special tonight,” said Stansbury. “We were as quick tonight as I have seen us all year.”
The Bulldogs successfully fed the ball to sophomore center Mario Austin throughout the contest. “We like to go there,” said Stansbury. “We look for
Mario every trip.”
It worked. Austin’s quickness and strength left Vandy defenders in their tracks on his way to leading all scorers with 23. The ‘Dores starting five only produced 24 points. Austin commented, “I just wanted to establish the post, and kick-out to shooters if I had trouble.”
The Bulldogs exhibited good passing and patience with taking shots in the game that featured half court offense. State outscored Vandy 38-20 in the paint.
Selective passing produced 20 assists, compared to four assists for the Commodores, who made just 16 field goals on the night. Zimmerman had five assists for the Bulldogs. It is not often that a team has more assists than its opponent has field goals. Nor is it often that one player has more assists than the opposing team.
The Bulldogs also got 10 points a piece from junior Michal Ignerski and Zimmerman. This tandem of offensive efforts combined with Austin’s matched the meager Vandy team total. Shooting percentages were key in the point totals. State shot 57.1 percent from the field, making lay-ins and sinking jumpers from many spots inside the three-point arc.
The MSU defensive effort contested every Commodore attempt with passion. Senior guard Guy Gardner linked the defensive focus of the team to the outcome. State held Vandy to just 31.4 percent for the game, and only two three-pointers out of 20 attempts.
VU tried to free their shooters with back cuts and screens and had little success.
Gardner said, “We were back-cut to death in practice this week, so we new how to handle it. We needed the road win (and got it).”
Senior Michael Gholar led the Bulldogs in boards with seven. As a team, the Bulldogs out-positioned, out-leaped and out-worked the Commodores on the
glass. State cleaned the glass 41 times, overshadowing Vandy’s effort of 19.
State took a 30-18 lead into the locker room of Memorial Gymnasium. The skinniest margin for the rest of the night would be nine. The single-digit deficit lasted just 22 seconds. MSU was determined to bury VU after blowing a 15-point halftime lead in Baton Rouge the previous week.
Following that loss, the Dawgs have clenched their teeth around both of their opponents to preserve significant halftime leads against Auburn and Vanderbilt.
Stansbury said, “We made what happened at LSU a learning experience. We wanted to make a positive from that negative, and we have done that.”
Wednesday night’s win also marks the team’s second Southeastern Conference road
win of the season and puts the Dawgs at 7-6 in the conference, just one game behind Mississippi for second in the SEC West. The Rebels roll into Starkville Saturday for the rematch of a Jan. 12 encounter that Ole Miss won 66-59.
Zimmerman said this game has extra significance because both teams are playing for more than just pride.
A win would tie the ‘Dawgs with the Rebs for second in the division. A second place finish in the division awards the team with a first round bye.
While 20 wins is a milestone, it cannot be relied upon to guarantee a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Recent history reminds Bulldog fans that the team reached 20 victories in the 1998-99 season, but got snubbed by the NCAA selection committee. That season State went .500 in conference play. A win Saturday guarantees no less than that this season.
The Bulldogs are hungry for the NCAA Tourney, but must play each game one at a time.
The Rebels should come into town well rested, as they had Wednesday night off.
Prior to that, Ole Miss defeated Florida in Oxford last Saturday. However, UM has a three-game losing streak on the road.
The showdown for the state’s bragging rights will begin at 5 p.m.