Articles by Ben Wait
Howland targets better rebounding from Bulldogs
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Ben Howland wasn’t happy with his team’s performance Saturday in a 91-74 loss to Tennessee at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The Bulldogs led 38-37 early in the second half, but the Volunteers went on a run and ran away with the victory.
New Hope boys respond to defensive call
New Hope High School boys basketball coach Drew McBrayer spent a little more than three minutes with his team in the locker room at halftime.
After building a 14-point lead in the first quarter, McBrayer saw his team slack off in the second quarter, which allowed West Lowndes High to cut the lead to eight at halftime.
Heritage Academy basketball squads sweep Columbus Christian
Heritage Academy boys’ basketball senior point guard Dalton Ford hit the floor hard twice in the fourth quarter.
Starkville High introduces Jones as its new football coach
STARKVILLE — Chris Jones and his wife, Shaunacy, walked into the Starkville High School football field house with big smiles on their faces.
Led by Starkville Athletic Director Milton Smith Sr., Jones and his wife greeted those who already had gathered. Jones shook everyone’s hand and introduced himself and said how much of a pleasure it was to be at Starkville.
EMCC DL enrolls at MSU
STARKVILLE — A day after announcing the enrollment of an East Mississippi Community College football player, the Mississippi State football team announced another Thursday.
A team spokesperson said EMCC defensive lineman Chauncey Rivers has enrolled and will go through spring practices with MSU. On Wednesday, MSU announced EMCC defensive back Brian Cole was enrolled in school.
MSU men will try to bounce back from loss to Kentucky
STARKVILLE — It hasn’t been easy for Southeastern Conference men’s basketball teams after playing Kentucky.
The No. 5 Wildcats are 6-0 in conference play and are on a six-game winning streak. Kentucky has beaten Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Auburn, and Mississippi State. Auburn, which beat LSU 78-74 at home Wednesday night, is the only team to win its next game after playing Kentucky.
Yellow Jackets hire new football coach
Kemper County High School football coach Chris Jones left a good impression on Starkville High School Athletic Director Milton Smith Sr. after an interview for the new Starkville High football coach position.
MSU stays close with No. 5 Kentucky
STARKVILLE — Lamar Peters, Quinndary Weatherspoon, and Mario Kegler looked down at the stats and shook their heads.
The Mississippi State men’s basketball players were somber Tuesday night as they digested an 88-81 loss to No. 5 Kentucky. MSU coach Ben Howland didn’t look at the stats as he began his opening statement. He praised his players and didn’t gaze at the stats until questions were asked.
Late scuffle part of foul-filled game
STARKVILLE — With less than a minute remaining in the game, a mild scuffle broke out in front of the Kentucky men’s basketball team’s bench.
Mississippi State coach Ben Howland and Kentucky coach John Calipari had to help the officials break up the scuffle and pull their respective players back to their bench.
Starkville High’s Bell developing as force
STARKVILLE — Markedric Bell doesn’t have the basketball background others have.
Bell didn’t play organized basketball in junior high, but he decided to join the Starkville High School boys basketball team. Bell didn’t play as a freshmen, but he practiced and received a chance to play as a sophomore.
Howland: MSU will treat Kentucky like any other game
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Ben Howland doesn’t view his team’s next game as an opportunity to “prove something.”
Instead, he views it as a another game, even if it is a matchup against the best team in the Southeastern Conference and one of the best in the nation.
MSU men win third straight by beating Texas A&M
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Ben Howland began his opening statement giving a general quote about the game.
MSU notebook: Large crowd packs coliseum for MSU win
STARKVILLE — Ben Howland embraced Lamar Peters as the two walked off the Humphrey Coliseum court Saturday afternoon.
Linguist leaves MSU for job at Minnesota
STARKVILLE — A day after announcing a new defensive coordinator, Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen needs to find another new defensive coach.
A MSU team spokesperson confirmed Thursday that safeties coach Maurice Linguist will join the Minnesota coaching staff as the secondary coach under new coach P.J. Fleck. Minnesota hasn’t officially announced the hiring of Linguist.
Holman carving out bigger role for Bulldogs
STARKVILLE — Aric Holman had to do something he had never done as a freshman with the Mississippi State men’s basketball team: He had to sit.
Holman arrived at MSU in the summer of 2015 as part of a group of freshmen that was expected to make an immediate impact. But Holman had micro fracture surgery on his left knee to correct a patellofemoral disorder prior to the 2015-16 season and missed the first 10 games.
MSU flag football team finishes second at national tournament
When a group of friends formed the co-ed flag football team Foot Clan at Mississippi State in 2015, they didn’t know what was in store.
After going through the 2015 season without a quarterback, Foot Clan stuck together and was ready for the 2016 campaign. After winning the co-ed championship at MSU, Foot Clan won a National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Regional championship on Dec. 3-4 in Hattiesburg on the campus of Southern Mississippi. Foot Clan rode the momentum and lost 19-6 to Valdosta State’s P-Rex squad in the NIRSA Flag Football National Championship game Jan. 8 in Pensacola, Florida.
Grantham will be MSU’s new defensive coordinator
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen will have a new defensive coordinator for the fourth-straight year.
On Wednesday, Mullen announced the hiring of Louisville coach Todd Grantham as MSU’s new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
In other coaching news, MSU safeties coach Maurice Linguist accepted the defensive backs position at Minnesota, FootballScoop.com reported. MSU didn’t confirm Linguist’s departure.
MSU tabs Grantham as new defensive coordinator
STARKVILLE — For the fourth-straight year, Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen will have a new defensive coordinator.
Starkville High’s Gay will consider all his options
STARKVILLE — Willie Gay is taking his time in the last month of the recruiting process.
The Starkville High School linebacker narrowed his list down to Mississippi State, LSU, Michigan, and Ole Miss in December. With National Signing Day on Wednesday, Feb. 1, Gay is going to make the make sure he picks the right school.
MSU football team adds 11 newcomers
STARKVILLE — With school starting Monday, the Mississippi State football team announced 11 new players are enrolled for the spring semester and will be able to go through spring practices.
Four of the 11 are high school graduates. The other seven are junior college grads.