MSU basketball hosts Little Rock tonight

STARKVILLE — There is plenty of credit to go around and those that try to assign it prove such by giving it to different parties, but it all undermines one fact: the Mississippi State’s men’s basketball team’s defense is among the best in the country.

MSU leaves town with bowl game plan in place

STARKVILLE — If the game needed to be played tomorrow, Mississippi State has every reason to believe it would be ready for it.

Red zone offense could be key for Bulldogs against Cardinals

STARKVILLE — If Mississippi State wants to rest assured it has an advantage over Louisville in the TaxSlayer Bowl, all it has to do is get the ball into the red zone.

Starkville girls continue winning ways with Joe Horne victory

After four minutes of basketball with just one point to show for it, Tabreea Gandy’s 3-pointer had the looks of a gift from the basketball gods. Her bucket brought the Starkville High School girls’ basketball team within three points of Minor (Alabama) — but turned out to be little more than a brief distraction.

Columbus girls open Joe Horne Classic with victory

It took Columbus High School all of four minutes to show it could do almost everything. The kryptonite would be revealed in the second half, but all things considered, the Falcons girls’ basketball team can work through that.

MSU men back in win column after beating UT Martin

STARKVILLE — The first nine games of the Mississippi State men’s basketball team did not see the Bulldogs grab more than 17 offensive rebounds in a single game. Twenty-two of them, 14 in the first half for 17 second-chance points.

High-flying Louisville offense provides challenge for Bulldogs

STARKVILLE — Greg Knox knows Mississippi State’s history of facing active Heisman Trophy winners is limited. On command, the only instances MSU’s interim head football coach could bring up were facing Ricky Williams in the Cotton Bowl after the 1988 season and hosting Tim Tebow in 2009; he missed facing Johnny Manziel in 2013, but his point stood.

MSU men’s basketball team looks for right offensive formula

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State’s men’s basketball team’s offensive formula went awry for the first time Tuesday night.

Now, MSU coach Ben Howland and his staff have only four games to figure out their next step before the start of the Southeastern Conference season.

Doctors: Fitzgerald healing faster than expected

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald already was on track to participate in spring practice.

Recently, though, the junior received some good news from his doctors.

Injuries force Jackson into spotlight for Bulldogs

STARKVILLE — The turning point for Jesse Jackson came as the Kentucky game drew to a close.

Former players, teammates praise new MSU assistant coaches

STARKVILLE — Blain Winston had just finished his career at Richwood High School in Monroe, Louisiana.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound defensive lineman was a part of one winning season and two playoff wins with the Rams when Louisiana football coach Mark Hudspeth sold him on a vision.

Unbeaten MSU will face biggest test vs. No. 25 Cincinnati

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State is in rare company.

MSU (8-0) enters its game at No. 25 Cincinnati at 6 tonight (ESPN2) as one of seven unbeaten Division I men’s college basketball teams. Georgetown, Florida State, Miami, Arizona State, TCU, and Villanova also are on the list.

Moorhead hires three assistants, including Shoop as defensive coordinator

STARKVILLE — New Mississippi State head football coach Joe Moorhead has begun his defensive staff with a proven name.

Cannizaro likes depth on healthy pitching staff

STARKVILLE — There still are a lot of new things coming at Andy Cannizaro in year two as Mississippi State’s baseball coach.

For the first time in his career as a head coach, Cannizaro went through a fall season with a full roster of healthy pitchers — which is also new, given the injuries that plagued his first season.

Starkville learns from losses, edges Columbus

STARKVILLE — The Starkville High School boys basketball team had been in the same situation before — against the same opponent.

Entering its game against Columbus on Saturday night. Starkville already has a four-point loss to Meridian, a two-point loss to Columbus, and a five-point loss to Okolona on its resume. The difference Saturday night was the Yellow Jackets learned from the first three losses.

Starkville girls hold on to beat Columbus

STARKVILLE — Kristie Williams says she is looking for someone who can take over a game when her Starkville High School girls basketball team desperately needs it.

Jariyah Covington showed signs Saturday night she can be that player.

Moorhead fills MSU coaching staff with three additions

STARKVILLE — The first staff to work under new Mississippi State football coach Joe Moorhead grew from two to five in the span of a few hours Friday.

Knox leads MSU back to practice

STARKVILLE — For the first time in his career, Greg Knox had to take what he called his “horse blinders” off.

In his 30-year coaching career, Knox never has had this much responsibility. He always has been a position coach — wide receivers or running backs — and sometimes has had the added titles of recruiting coordinator or special teams coordinator.

Holman’s offseason work results in increased production

STARKVILLE — Aric Holman has shown in seven games he didn’t waste his offseason.

After averaging 8.4 points and 6-0 rebounds last season, the Mississippi State junior forward entered the offseason looking to improve his skills.

Trussell introduced as athletic director for SOCSD

STARKVILLE — Eddie Peasant can consider the favor repaid.

Cheyenne Trussell encouraged Peasant to chase his doctorate degree and willed him to finish it. Peasant believes he wouldn’t be superintendent of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District without that push.

This week, Peasant repaid the favor by granting Trussell an opportunity.