Howland believes MSU men can play better defense

STARKVILLE — Lamar Peters picked the pocket of Florida A&M’s Nasir Core and passed to Tyson Carter for an easy dunk.

The play gave the Mississippi State men’s basketball team a 15-2 lead at the 14-minute, 23-second mark of the first half.

The Bulldogs didn’t score for another 4:40.

Ado makes debut in MSU’s victory over Florida A&M

STARKVILLE — Ben Howland caught himself gawking at Abdul Ado.

Starkville finds offense to put away Horn Lake

STARKVILLE — Tonorris Brookins and Malik Brown stood on top of a bench talking and laughing with teammates.

World Series will give MSU shortstops chance to show their stuff

STARKVILLE — Shortstop was an obvious starting point when it came time to divide the roster for the Mississippi State baseball team’s six public intrasquad scrimmages.

MSU men have plan to stay fresh during busy stretch

STARKVILLE — Collin Crane had only been the Mississippi State men’s basketball team’s strength and conditioning coach for a few months when he sat down with his boss, Ben Howland. It was early August and they had the winter’s schedule in hand.

MSU’s Datcher ready to play bigger role

STARKVILLE — E.J. Datcher came to Southeastern Conference basketball from Harpersville, Alabama, a town with about as many people as Starkville High School has students.

Motivational message for Starkville football team

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School’s football players entered the locker room Wednesday to a surprise.

On each of their lockers hung a sign titled The Bottom Line. The message included 155 words of encouragement that urged the Yellow Jackets to work hard so they can make the most of the opportunity in front of them.

New-look offensive line paves way for Bulldogs’ succecss

STARKVILLE — Darryl Williams’ help disappeared in the first quarter of his fifth career start.

MSU could have to call on Thompson at linebacker

STARKVILLE — One way to take a good defense and reduce it to rubble is to take away its top linebacker.

Arkansas’ offense starting to settle in

STARKVILLE — The Arkansas football team’s offense is starting to settle in.

After injuries at quarterback, offensive line, and running back threw Arkansas into a frenzy for several weeks, No. 17 MSU (7-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference, No. 16 College Football Playoff) thinks it knows what it will be up against when it takes on Arkansas (4-6, 1-5) at 11 a.m. Saturday (WCBI) at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Bulldogs will stay aggressive on defense

STARKVILLE — Dan Mullen took to the marketplace in the offseason.

After four years as an offensive coordinator and eight as a play-calling head coach, the Mississippi State football coach knew he wanted someone who could bring an attacking style of defense back to Starkville.

Hurts’ clutch passes key to Tide victory

The rare explosive play was what kept the No. 1 Alabama football team within striking distance of No. 18 Mississippi State.

No. 1 Alabama rallies past No. 18 MSU

STARKVILLE — Tolando Cleveland crouched over his helmet.

Cleveland used a hand on his face mask to prop himself up. He was consumed in the feeling of what was lost.

Injuries force MSU to turn to young receivers

STARKVILLE — On the first play of the No. 18 Mississippi State football team’s final possession, quarterback Nick Fitzgerald escaped to his right and shed a rusher. As he set his feet, he saw Reggie Todd moving toward the sideline.

Starkville’s defense delivers in first round

STARKVILLE — Chris Jones couldn’t make sense of it.

The Starkville High School football coach had never seen anything like it. Sure, he had seen turnovers in games, but seven, including two muffed punts?

MSU coaches feel changes to targeting rule will be discussed

STARKVILLE — Dan Mullen and Todd Grantham agree Mississippi State safety Johnathan Abram made helmet-to-helmet contact with Massachusetts quarterback Ross Comis in the fourth quarter of their game Saturday.

Former Bulldogs recall last victories against Crimson Tide

STARKVILLE — Sylvester Croom knew about Alabama football better than most.

Croom was a player and an assistant coach at Alabama for 14 years, so his players at Mississippi State knew Croom meant it when he said they were better than Alabama.

Peters leads by example for MSU men’s basketball team

STARKVILLE — Even in a game week, Lamar Peters was showing up to practice sweaty.

Grantham makes others take notice at Starkville High

STARKVILLE — Corbin Grantham was all set to be a starting safety for the reigning state championship Trinity High School football team in Louisville, Kentucky. After a freshman year which saw him rise from the junior varsity team to the varsity squad’s bench, departing seniors paved the way for Grantham to take a spot.

MSU improving its aerial thievery

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team had one interception in its first five games.

Last in the nation in that category, MSU spent its bye week charting opportunities and searching for answers.

Safety Brandon Bryant didn’t fix the problem Oct. 14 when he intercepted a pass on the goal line to help seal a victory against BYU, but he kicked off the series of events that did.