After being heavily criticized during last Tuesday’s nationally-televised loss to Kentucky, sophomore forward Renardo Sidney needed to do something to silence those calling him out for still being out of shape.
In Saturday’s 71-59 win over Ole Miss, Sidney did just that. His 22 points and 12 rebounds helped propel the Bulldogs, and head coach Rick Stansbury noted the former McDonald’s All-American’s hustle getting down the floor and his ability to get to the rim.
“There were some moments you saw all of that, absolutely,” Stansbury said. “It was probably more minutes of that than you’ve seen consistently.”
The win puts Mississippi State (14-12, 6-6 SEC) at second place in the SEC West with four games left in the season. While Alabama holds a commanding four-game lead, finishing second in the division would give the Bulldogs a first round bye in next month’s SEC Tournament.
The Bulldogs and Rebels went back and forth in the first half, and the game was tied at 33 at the break. Junior point guard Dee Bost spent the last four minutes of the first half on the bench in foul trouble, but with Bost back on the floor in the second half, the Bulldogs found their rhythm.
State went on a 15-2 run (highlighted by two Riley Benock 3’s and a Sidney dunk) midway through the second half that put the Bulldogs in cruise control the rest of the game.
“We lost our poise when they made that run, and before you know it, eight goes to 15 real quick,” Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy said.
The win continues Stansbury’s recent success over Ole Miss, as the season sweep gives the 13-year head coach his fifth straight win over the Rebels.
While Bost and Benock, with five and eight points, respectively, did not make much of an impact in the scoring column, the guards combined for 16 of the Bulldogs’ 21 assists, the most State has had since it gave out 22 against Auburn in 2008.
“When your two starting guards have 16 assists and no turnovers … those stats help you win most nights,” Stansbury said.
After the game, Stansbury announced Bost had hurt his hamstring against Kentucky and did not practice in the days leading up to the Ole Miss game. Bost has been no stranger to injury this season, suffering from a bruised achilles and a broken tooth in SEC play, but he has yet to miss significant playing time.
Senior guard Ravern Johnson scored 16 points coming off the bench in his third game back from suspension. Benock said the suspension that followed Johnson’s criticle tweets of Stansbury and MSU fans has given him a new perspective.
“I think he’s just a little bit more motivated,” Benock said. “He’s not worried about getting his shots and stuff; he’s worried about what he can do to help the team. I think it just kind of gave him a different mindset and grasp on things.”
On defense, the Bulldogs held Ole Miss guard Chris Warren to a quiet 13 points, and the Rebels only had five assists on their 23 baskets. In contrast, the Bulldogs had 21 assists on 24 field goals.
Sidney was unavailable in the media room after the game, but did do an interview with the SEC Network. Stansbury said he will not be doing anymore TV interviews, and he will be available to the media when he is ready.
Sidney’s double-double was not the first big game against Ole Miss this season. In Oxford on Jan. 13, Sidney put up 24 points in the Bulldogs’ first SEC win of the season. While Sidney has faced tough criticism from both local and national media, Stansbury said he is to the point where it does not bother the 21-year-old.
“He’s been shot full of holes, me and him both,” Stansbury said. “They can just keep shooting, and I don’t think it bothers him anymore.”
The Bulldogs will look to carry the momentum from Saturday’s win into Wednesday’s home game against LSU, whom State beat 58-57 on Feb. 5.