Articles by Brandon Walker
MSU men will try to build on latest win in SEC opener
STARKVILLE — Rick Ray doesn’t know what was said.
When asked about a players’ only meeting his team held last week after its 66-47 loss to McNeese State, Ray couldn’t provide any details.
Forest emerges as consistent scorer for West Point boys
WEST POINT — When asked about his unusual first name, West Point High School boys basketball standout Ecurb Forest smiles.
“My dad’s name is Bruce Forest, and when they were picking out my name, he just turned Bruce backwards and came up with Ecurb,” Forest said. “It’s definitely unique, makes me stand out.”
MSU men outlast FSU
STARKVILLE — When Mississippi State’s men’s basketball players walked into the home locker room at the Humphrey Coliseum on Friday afternoon, their eyes were drawn to a message coach Rick Ray had written on a white board at the front of the room.
That message: “Perception vs. reality.”
“I told them the perception of us because of how many games we’ve lost is we are a bad basketball team,” said Ray, whose team had lost six of its past seven games. “I also told them that in reality we are a good basketball team. We just haven’t been showing it.”
MSU’s reality caught up with Ray’s perception against Florida State.
Starkville boys turn up defense to beat Olive Branch
Displeased with his team’s offensive performance in the first half against Olive Branch on Saturday, Starkville High School boys basketball coach Greg Carter turned in a curious direction to ignite his offense.
“I knew we had to start playing our style of defense,” Carter said. “Once we did that, the points would follow.”
Once Starkville clamped down on Olive Branch to start the third quarter, the points followed.
Forest continues high-scoring ways for West Point boys
As Ecurb Forest gets better, so does West Point High’s boys basketball team.
Forest, West Point’s senior shooting guard, set a career-high in points for the third time in the past six games with a 31-point effort in a 72-62 victory against West Lowndes at New Hope High’s Trojan Classic.
West Point girls lose to South Panola
With seven players on his roster, West Point High School girls basketball coach Dashmond Daniel was worried about his team’s conditioning Saturday against South Panola in the New Hope High Trojan Classic.
Daniel had reason to be concerned.
Reeling Bulldogs play host to Florida State tonight
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State’s men’s basketball team is in desperate need of a break.
6 years later, Mullen back at Orange Bowl
There’s a small picture hanging in Dan Mullen’s house.
In it, there’s Mississippi State’s coach, standing with his wife.
Only he’s not wearing the familiar maroon and white of MSU.
MSU men’s basketball falls to McNeese State
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State’s men’s basketball team was looking for a tiny step forward. Instead, the Bulldogs took a gigantic leap backward.
MSU men will try to build momentum
STARKVILLE — For the first time in more than a month, Mississippi State’s basketball team has a chance to establish a winning streak.
A 70-47 victory against Jacksonville on Dec. 23 gave MSU (6-5) a chance to continue its winning ways at 7 tonight when it plays host to McNeese State.
MSU football team’s rise to No. 1 top story of 2014
STARKVILLE — When it comes to selecting the top moment for Mississippi State sports in 2014, it could only be the time the football team spent ranked No. 1.
Orange Bowl impact huge for Bulldogs
South Beach is a sea of maroon, and it’s only going to get worse.
73 years later: Memories remain from MSU’s Orange Bowl win in 1941
For Rollin S. “Polly” Armstrong, it was an easy decision.
A lifelong Mississippi State fan, Armstrong watched with great anticipation as the 1940 MSU football team finished with a 10-0-1 record — the best in program history.
Thomas, Forest spark West Point boys
WEST POINT — This time, Ecurb Forest brought a friend.
In the West Point High School boys basketball team’s first meeting against Houston on Dec. 16, Forest scored a career-high 18 points in an easy victory.
In Saturday night’s finale of the West Point Holiday Invitational, the Green Wave again won easily, this time behind Forest and guard Dason Thomas, who combined for 39 points in a 73-59 win.
Bailey leads West Point girls past Houston
WEST POINT — For three quarters, it was anything but pretty.
For the final eight minutes, though, the West Point High School girls basketball team put on a show. In doing so, it escaped with a 66-54 victory against Houston on Saturday night in the West Point Holiday Invitational.
MSU men beat Jacksonville to snap losing streak
STARKVILLE — Rick Ray’s family can now breathe easier. So can Mississippi State’s third-year men’s basketball coach.
On the heels of a five-game losing streak, MSU enjoyed its best shooting performance of the season Tuesday night and limited Jacksonville to 28-percent shooting from the field in the second half to cruise to a 70-47 win, MSU’s first victory this month.
MSU men’s basketball returns home to host Jacksonville
STARKVILLE – In the midst of a five-game losing streak, Mississippi State’s basketball team is searching for answers.
Mayberry’s free throws help New Hope edge Columbus
Demyis Mayberry admits he was nervous Saturday night.
It didn’t show.
Mayberry, a senior guard for the New Hope High School boys basketball team, stepped to the free-throw line in the final game of the 18th-annual Joe Horne Columbus Christmas Invitational with his team trailing Columbus by one point with eight seconds remaining. Mayberry had two shots to give the Trojans a one-point lead.
Mayberry did just that, and eight seconds later, a last-second shot by Columbus clanged off the rim to give New Hope a 70-69 win to cap the annual tournament.
MSU signee leads No. 1 Velma Jackson
The most impressive shot of the Joe Horne Columbus Christmas Invitational didn’t count.
With time winding down in the Velma Jackson High School boys basketball team’s 62-46 victory against Horn Lake on Saturday night, Mississippi State signee Quinndary Weatherspoon, a 6-foot-4 guard, saw his opportunity. Two minutes earlier, he had watched his younger brother, Nicholas, throw down a tomahawk dunk to punctuate a fast break.
Quinndary had plans to upstage his younger brother.
