The figurative bubble for the Mississippi State men’s basketball team keeps floating upward.
MSU (19-10, 10-6 SEC) picked up its second crucial victory of the week, knocking off Missouri 67-63 Saturday on the road. It was a far cry from the 27-point win the Bulldogs amassed over the Tigers in their January matchup in Starkville, but with MSU sitting in ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi’s first four out entering the contest, coach Ben Howland will take the victory nonetheless.
“I’m really happy for our team,” Howland said.
With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 10-6 in Southeastern Conference play. The 10 conference wins ties the most in a single season in the Ben Howland era. On the flip side, it was Missouri’s (14-15, 6-10) first loss at home in a little more than a month.
MSU also controls its own destiny for a double-bye in the SEC tournament. With Florida’s loss to Tennessee, the Bulldogs and Gators have an identical 10-6 mark in SEC play. With two games remaining in the regular season, if both teams have identical conference records, MSU would be awarded the higher seed because of its win against Florida earlier this year unless the two are caught in a three-team tie.
Senior guard Tyson Carter, coming off back-to-back 19-point games, continued to play like his collegiate career was on the line, finishing with a team-high 15 points.
“I love Tyson Carter’s routine,” Howland said. “I love the way he slows down, takes a deep breath and executes. Because your team is depending on you to win this game.”
Carter made one of the biggest baskets down the stretch, converting a floater with his team up two with 45 seconds left. The Starkville native also sealed the victory with two free throws with 31 seconds remaining.
“I just knew I had to make a play,” Carter said of his basket. “When I got in the lane, I saw it open up a bit, so I took it to the basket.”
Nick Weatherspoon and Reggie Perry finished with 12 points apiece, while all eight of MSU’s players seeing action scored. The Bulldogs shot 53.2 percent from the floor and held Missouri to 6-of-29 from beyond the arc.
“I thought our defense today was the key,” Howland said. “They had some good looks from three that they didn’t make, which, thank you, Lord. But seriously. Some were good looks.”
At halftime, MSU entered the break with a 41-34 lead, thanks to shooting 58 percent from the floor in the first half.
Three Missouri players finished in double figures, including Xavier Pinson (20 points), Dru Smith (19) and Mitchell Smith (10). The Tigers shot 37 percent from the floor and outrebounded MSU 36-30.
“Those two guards (Pinson and Smith) are special,” Howland said. “They’ll be in the NCAA tournament next year. They’ve got everyone coming back but Reed Nikko. They’re really, really tough to handle.”
MSU is back in action at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday against South Carolina in Columbia in the team’s final chance this year for a quadrant one victory. After the bout with the Gamecocks, MSU closes the regular season at Humphrey Coliseum Saturday against Ole Miss.
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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