OXFORD — The Mississippi State men’s basketball team did everything necessary to earn a road win at Ole Miss on Wednesday night.
Well, almost everything.
The Bulldogs opened each half with strong runs, had a double-digit lead in the second half, and shot 56 percent from the field, but even one of MSU’s best statistical efforts of the season wasn’t enough in a 79-73 loss.
“I really need to sit down and evaluate the film tonight or first thing tomorrow morning,” MSU coach Rick Ray said. “We did extremely well in every area except getting to the free-throw line. We pride ourselves as a team on getting to the foul line and making as many free throws as our opponent usually takes. But you look tonight and see we only went to the line 11 times while we fouled 27 times. I guess I have to coach them not to foul a little better.”
That discrepancy at the free-throw line was one factor in MSU’s ultimate demise, as Ole Miss was 29 of 37 from the free-throw line, while MSU was 6 of 11. But MSU, which led by as many as 13 points in the second half, also had other culprits to blame.
The Bulldogs had 16 turnovers, 10 in the first half, and forced the Rebels into only six giveaways. The Bulldogs also blew double-digit leads in each half.
The loss spoiled a rebirth by MSU guard Craig Sword, who made a career-high five 3-pointers and was 10 of 13 from the field en route to a game-high 27 points. It was a breakout performance by the junior from Montgomery, Alabama, who missed the first four games of the season recovering from offseason back surgery.
Asked afterward about his offensive explosion, Sword downplayed the
effort.
“I feel awful,” Sword said. “We lost the game.”
Of Sword’s performance, Ray was much more complimentary.
“I have to tell you, Craig Sword is one of the toughest players I have ever been around,” Ray said. “Before the game, he tweaked his back, landed awkwardly during warmups. We didn’t even know if he was going to play. He was a game-time decision, so for (Sword) to go out and play like that, considering the pain he was in, it says a lot about the toughness of that kid.”
MSU (9-11, 2-5 in Southeastern Conference play) led for 29 of 40 minutes, but faltered when it mattered most, as Ole Miss closed the game on a 19-13 run in the final six minutes. A major reason for that final stretch was senior guard Jarvis Summers, who scored all 22 of his points for Ole Miss in the second half.
“Jarvis Summers, I’ve said it all along, is a great basketball player,” Ray said. “Even last year when Marshall Henderson was here, Summers was their best player. When you watch film on Ole Miss, the one thing you see consistently in close games in Summers making plays down the stretch. That’s what killed us, our inability to make plays down the stretch while they turned it on.”
Summers was the driving force. He made 12 of 15 free throws in the second half. He also delivered what turned out to be the dagger, a four-point play with a little more than three minutes left. With Ole Miss leading 67-65 and the shot clock winding down, Summers shot a fadeaway 3-pointer just in front of the Ole Miss bench, absorbed a foul by senior Roquez Johnson and sank the long-distance shot. He then added the free throw to give Ole Miss a 71-65 lead it didn’t relinquish.
“It was crucial,” Ray said of Summers’ big shot. “I thought we played outstanding defense that possession, then he made a play.”
Of the four-point play, Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy was equally impressed, even if he wasn’t watching.
“I heard the whistle for the foul and I turned my head, so I didn’t see the ball go in,” Kennedy said. “When I heard the reaction from the fans, I knew something good must have happened for the Rebels.”
MSU opened each half with a big run. The Bulldogs made seven of their first nine shots to take a 16-4 lead before Ole Miss used a 17-2 spurt to grab a 21-18 cushion. MSU made six of its first eight shots in the second half and used a 13-4 run to turn a 32-28 halftime advantage into a 45-32 lead with 14 minutes left.
But Ole Miss chipped away and outscored MSU by 23 points from the free-throw line to make the lead disappear.
“They were more aggressive,” said MSU guard I.J. Ready, who scored 10 points. “We made our run, then they made their run. Their run was more important.”
The loss continues a disheartening trend for the Bulldogs, who have been closer to turning the corner only to suffer close losses. The Bulldogs are 2-3 in their past five conference games, a stretch that includes a four-point loss at Texas A&M and a six-point loss at home to Georgia.
“It’s real frustrating to get so close and not get the win,” Sword said. “But they played better than we did. We fouled too much, can’t do that.”
MSU shot 56 percent from the field, outrebounded Ole Miss 34-31, and controlled the pace of the game for most of the night.
But Summers and company outscored MSU 51-41 in the second half.
“I want to give Mississippi State a lot of credit,” said Kennedy, whose team improved to 13-7 and 4-3. “They played exceptionally hard. Very seldom do you win games when getting outrebounded. They outrebounded us, shot 56 percent. Give our guys credit for staying in the moment, staying in the fight long enough to get the win.”
Junior forward Gavin Ware added 12 points, while Johnson led MSU with seven rebounds.
Stefan Moody had 14 points and senior LaDarius White added 12 for Ole Miss.
Ray said his team’s effort and energy was good enough to win, but he wants his team to take the next step and complete its efforts.
“We are past the point of moral victories,” Ray said. “We want to win. In order for this program to take the next step, we have to win games like this. We can’t just be happy to be in them.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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