MSU men’s basketball falls to No. 15 Florida

STARKVILLE — With 2 minutes, 24 seconds left against a top 15 team, Mississippi State pieced together a fluid transition possession ending with an emphatic Aric Holman dunk. The play tied the game at 52, officially erasing what was an eight-point halftime lead for Florida.

MSU baseball team set to unveil video board

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State went to Daktronics for a little more than just an upgrade because it wanted to make a statement.

When Daktronics sales representative Andrew Rice talked with MSU about a new video board at Dudy Noble Field/Polk-DeMent Stadium, the first option was to build a bigger version of the board that was already in place. That video board would have had a traditional, static line score at the bottom. Then MSU pushed for more — all video screen, no static space.

MSU men looking for stronger finishes

STARKVILLE — Recent opponents of the Mississippi State men’s basketball team aren’t afraid to say the Bulldogs are coming closer to beating teams at the top of the league.

Cannizaro excited for season opener at MSU

STARKVILLE — In November, Andy Cannizaro took the kind of job he had been dreaming of.

At 4 p.m. Friday, Mississippi State’s first-year baseball coach will begin it in earnest when his team opens his inaugural season against 2016 College World Series participant Texas Tech at Dudy Noble Field.

Pilkington ready to be MSU’s No. 1 starter

STARKVILLE — Ryan Gridley is the self-proclaimed expert on the last year of Konnor Pilkington’s development.

After playing with Pilkington last season at Mississippi State, Gridley was a teammate of his with the Cape Cod League’s Brewster

Whitecaps before returning to Starkville for the fall and spring.

West Point girls win, boys fall at Class 5A, Region 2 tournament

West Point girls basketball coach Dashmond Daniel does not hesitate to call Jamia Hollings, “the heartbeat,” of his team. So, when he rested her with a high ankle sprain for three weeks, even when she could have played earlier than that, he did it for a reason.

MSU baseball coach Cannizaro eager to work with pitching coach Henderson

STARKVILLE — It’s no secret that Wes Johnson loves velocity.

MSU has plenty of depth at catcher

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State catcher Elih Marrero throws a lot more than he used to.

The added responsibility is part of the job description of catching for MSU first-year head coach Andy Cannizaro.

“He loves to run, run, run, run, run,” said Marrero, a sophomore. “I think we throw out about 75 percent. It’s something like that, but he doesn’t care. He wants us to go, go, go, and go.”

Kegler becoming more consistent producer for Bulldogs

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State men’s basketball team’s backcourt already was a man down Saturday when Lamar Peters limped off the court in the second half.

Plenty of competition remains for MSU baseball as opener approaches

STARKVILLE — Andy Cannizaro believes in competition.

MSU’s first-year head baseball coach has facilitated plenty of it at practice, and it looks like his players will get more of it prior to the season opener.

JUCO signings ease fans’ anxiety about MSU football team’s recruiting class

STARKVILLE — Simultaneous, yet contradictory, excitement and anxiety overtake coaches’ meetings rooms on National Signing Day.

The future of the program can be bolstered in a few hours … if all of the National Letters of Intent arrive as planned.

The Mississippi State football team was blissfully immune to most of the anxiety.

No. 19 South Carolina uses late push to beat MSU

STARKVILLE — As counterintuitive as it sounds, it was a switch to zone that stymied the Mississippi State men’s basketball team’s hot shooting.

After a 8-for-15 3-point barrage in the first half and a 22-point surge off the bench from freshman guard Tyson Carter, South Carolina’s defensive switch inspired a 9-0 run in the final five minutes and helped it earn a 77-73 victory at Humphrey Coliseum.

CCA boys take first step on title journey

STEENS — RJ Deloach doesn’t consider himself a true scorer.

That doesn’t mean Deloach can’t morph into one when the opportunity presents itself.

“Defense is my strong suit,” Deloach said. “When I get the ball, I’m pass first, but if I see a lane, I’m going to attack it.”

Deloach did plenty of attacking from the start Thursday night, scoring 14 points in the first quarter in the Columbus Christian Academy boys basketball team’s 64-19 rout of Winona Christian Academy in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AA, District 2 tournament.

MSU men will look for faster start vs. No. 19 South Carolina

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State men’s basketball team’s ability to mount a comeback is undeniable.

In the last week, MSU erased a 19-point deficit to beat Tennessee and turned a 21-point deficit into a six-point loss at Auburn.

MSU’s next step: avoid the deficit that precedes the second-half surges of late.

The search for answers will continue at 7 p.m. Saturday when MSU (14-9, 5-6 Southeastern Conference) plays host to No. 19 South Carolina (19-5, 9-2) at Humphrey Coliseum. ESPN2 will televise the game live.

Grantham hopes to bring stability to MSU’s coaching staff

STARKVILLE — Todd Grantham knows he is stepping through a revolving door.

Mississippi State’s defensive coordinator position has been a one-and-done position of late, as Manny Diaz and Peter Sirmon had the position for one year.

Grantham says MSU defense will re-establish physical identity

STARKVILLE — Fast, physical, and aggressive.

That will be the tag line for Todd Grantham’s defenses at Mississippi State. It’s one he repeated Wednesday at his introductory news conference as MSU’s defensive coordinator.

MSU, USM baseball rivalry will return to campuses

STARKVILLE — For the first time, Mississippi State and Southern Mississippi baseball teams will face each other in a traditional three-game weekend series format.

Mangum feels he is better hitter than last season

STARKVILLE — Jake Mangum already has been the best hitter in college baseball’s best conference.

Last season, Mangum hit .408 as a freshman to help the Mississippi State win the Southeastern Conference regular-season title en route to a 44-win campaign.

MSU confirms additions to Mullen’s staff

Dan Mullen’s coaching staff for 2017 is filling up.

Mississippi State confirmed multiple reports that D.J Looney, a graduate assistant for Georgia, will be the new tight ends coach and Brett Elliott will be the new quarterbacks coach.

Rebounding will be key for MSU men

STARKVILLE — Turns out Ben Howland was right.

Mississippi State’s men’s basketball coach pestered his team to rebound in a stretch of four losses in five games prior to a matchup against Tennessee on Saturday at Humphrey Coliseum.

MSU’s trickle down the Southeastern Conference standings coincided with a declining rebounding margin, which convinced Howland the latter would help fix the former.