Articles by Ben Wait
MSU men look to build winning streak
STARKVLLE — After a 67-65 loss to East Tennessee State last week, Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Ben Howland saw his team attack practice with new purpose.
The loss to ended the Bulldogs’ three-game winning streak. MSU followed that game with an 86-44 win against Southern Mississippi on Monday night at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson. The Bulldog hit a school-record 17 3-pointers. MSU (7-3) will try to start a new winning streak at 6 tonight (SEC Network) when it plays host to Morehead State (3-8) in its next-to-last non-conference game.
Columbus defeats New Hope in overtime thriller to end Joe Horne Classic
It hasn’t been easy for Robert Woodard II.
MSU, Southern Miss meet in first Capital City Showdown
STARKVILLE — Quinndary Weatherspoon wasn’t pleased with his performance Wednesday.
Columbus boys defeat New Hope in overtime
Columbus defeated New Hope 71-62 in overtime in the final game of the Joe Horne Columbus Christmas Classic.
Columbus girls win twice at Joe Horne
Kaylyn Wilson didn’t care what the halftime deficit was, she was confident that her team was going to come back.
Bulldogs complete bowl preparations at home
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen didn’t know what to expect Wednesday.
Starkville High’s Moore appreciates all-star invite
STARKVILLE — When Rylan Moore was younger, he tried his hand at several sports.
Schexnayder realizes dream of playing football in Southeastern Conference
STARKVILLE — Kody Schexnayder’s first love was baseball.
Mullen working on developing depth at center
STARKVILLE — One of Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen’s top priorities is finding a new center.
Senior Jamaal Clayborn has spent the last two seasons at the position after transitioning from guard. Before Clayborn, who has 24 starts at center, Dillon Day was a four-year starter at center from 2011-14.
MSU fills needs with nine JUCO signings
Dan Mullen and the Mississippi State football team took advantage of the junior college signing period Wednesday by announcing the signing of nine players.
The class is highlighted by the No. 1 JUCO safety Johnathan Abram of Jones County Junior College in Ellisville. Abram played as a freshman at Georgia before transferring to JCJC. Abram had 23 tackles, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble. The Columbia native had 25 tackles in 10 games at Georgia.
Last-second shot lifts Bucs past Bulldogs
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Ben Howland will be anxious to watch the final play again.
Howland felt good about his team’s defense on the final possession Wednesday night against East Tennessee State. He felt like the Bulldogs had the best game plan to force overtime.
MSU men back home for East Tennessee State
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Ben Howland had to set last week’s practices around final exams.
Peters growing into cornerback role for Bulldogs
STARKVILLE — Jamal Peters wants to make a permanent move.
Ex-Bulldog Evans charged with murder
Former Mississippi State football player Quay Evans has been charged with murder, attempted murder, and aggravated assault.
WLBT reported Monday that Evans and his brother, Samuel Evans, were arrested Sunday after the Scott County Sheriff’s Department
responded to shots fired around 10:30 p.m. Saturday at a home in Morton. When officers arrived, one man was found with a gunshot wound to his head, while another was transported to Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
Hard work helps Gray emerge as receiving threat
STARKVILLE — When Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen dismisses his players after practice, many are quick to head to the locker room and leave the facility.
But junior wide receiver Donald Gray is different. When time allows, he hooks up the JUGS Machine, he gets a teammate to feed balls through it, and he works on his receiving skills.
MSU seniors want to make most of last bowl game
STARKVILLE — Richie Brown didn’t want to be a part of the senior class that ended the bowl streak.
Entering this season, the Mississippi State football team had been to a school-record six-straight bowl games. The likelihood of getting to a seventh looked good, but the Bulldogs hit hard times and needed to win their final two games, much like in 2013, to become bowl eligible.
Mullen focused on MSU as bowl preparations begin
STARKVILLE — It has become a common occurrence for Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen to be linked to numerous job openings after every season.
Mullen was one of two finalists for the Oregon opening, according to ESPN’s Brett McMurphy, but the job went to South Florida’s Willie Taggart. Mullen said Wednesday he was working on a contract extension with MSU, but he said Friday he hasn’t talked to MSU Director of Athletics John Cohen about it. He confirmed work is being done on a deal for him.
Starkville basketball teams sweep Columbus
Defend and rebound.
That’s what Starkville High School boys basketball coach Greg Carter preaches to his team. It’s so important that it’s on the back of many Yellow Jacket basketball T-shirts — many of those worn by Yellow Jacket players before Saturday night’s game against Columbus.
Ross, Simmons, Lewis earn All-SEC honors
STARKVILLE — The postseason honors keep coming in for Fred Ross.
On Thursday, The Associated Press named the Mississippi State wide receiver first-team All-Southeastern Conference, while defensive standouts Jeffery Simmons and Leo Lewis were named Freshman All-SEC by the league’s coaches.
On Tuesday, Ross, a senior, was named second-team All-SEC by the league’s coaches. On Monday, he accepted a invite to the 2017 Reese’s Senior Bowl.
Mullen, MSU eager for another bowl opportunity
Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen smiles when he thinks about what his program accomplished in the last eight years.
The Bulldogs have competed for the Southeastern Conference Western Division title. In 2014, they started the season with nine-straight wins and were ranked No. 1 for five-straight weeks.
MSU also has been a regular at bowl games in Mullen’s tenure.