STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State men’s basketball team made a statement last month last month in New York City.
Wins against nationally ranked Texas A&M and the University of Arizona on consecutive nights in the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden helped MSU erase the sting of a home loss to Akron and set it back on the road to national relevance.
Three more victories against mid-major programs have helped set the stage for No. 21 MSU’s next big test, a matchup at 8 tonight (ESPNU) against West Virginia in the Big East/SEC Challenge at Humphrey Coliseum.
MSU (7-1) enters tonight’s game on a six-game winning streak, while West Virginia (4-1) is coming off a 77-56 victory against Akron.
“This is going to be a heck of a challenge,” MSU coach Rick Stansbury said. “West Virginia is a really good basketball team. We’re making steady improvement, but this is a big basketball game for early in the year. It’s a great opportunity for us. It’s two teams who are evenly balanced in a lot of areas.”
MSU is coming off an 82-59 victory against the University of North Texas. Arnett Moultrie returned from a two-game absence to lead the team in scoring (20 points) and rebounding (nine). Junior forward Renardo Sidney returned from a sprained left wrist to score nine points and grab three rebounds in 20 minutes.
“This is a big game for us at home,” said Moultrie, who leads the Southeastern Conference in rebounding (10.8 per game). “It will be a big test for us. We’ve just got to play our game.”
Senior Kevin Jones (21 points, 12.2 rebounds per game) leads a West Virginia team that is expected to have four starters averaging in double figures. Freshman guard Jabarie Hinds is averaging 11.8 ppg., 4.2 assists, and 3.2 steals, while senior Darryl Bryant is averaging 14.4 ppg. and 3.6 assists.
Stansbury expects West Virginia, which is coached by longtime Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins, to play hard and to play tough defense. He said Jones, a 6-foot-8, 220 pounder who was a first-team All-Big East preseason pick, and 6-9, 260-pound junior Deniz Kilicli (10.6 ppg., 6.4 rebounds) give the Mountaineers plenty of size on the block for Moultrie, Sidney, and Wendell Lewis to handle.
Stansbury feels West Virginia has addressed turnovers problems that were an issue early in the season.
He said Hinds’ ability to run the team and Bryant’s shooting touch give the Mountaineers plenty of balance that will tough to shut down.
“(Hinds) has them settled down, and they got Bryant off that point, got him over there at the two-guard spot, and they’re just a lot better than they were early,” Stansbury said. “I see them being right up there in the top of the Big East before it’s over. I think they can be that good. The biggest thing he (Huggins) had to get figured out was his point guard play, and he’s done that. He’s got a couple of things on the inside that is as good as anybody in that league. They’ve got some good pieces off that bench now. They’ve got good depth on that inside and good depth on the perimeter. He’s playing about 10 guys.”
NOTE: The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a commemorative vanity license plate honoring 100 years of MSU basketball.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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