STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State men’s basketball team is looking to avenge another Southeastern Conference loss.
In revenge games this season, MSU has defeated Arkansas and Alabama and lost to Texas A&M.
At 1:30 p.m. Saturday (SEC Network), MSU (12-15, 5-10 SEC) will get another chance when it plays host to South Carolina (23-5, 10-5) at Humphrey Coliseum.
MSU lost to South Carolina 84-74 on Jan. 26 in Columbia, South Carolina. After seeing Arkansas make 16 3-pointers in an 82-68 victory on Jan. 9 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, MSU limited Arkansas to one 3-pointer in a 78-46 victory on Feb. 9.
Against Alabama, MSU blew a chance to win in regulation and lost 82-80 in overtime on Feb. 2. MSU then beat Alabama 67-61 last Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
MSU is 3-2 in its last five games. Four of those games have been decided by nine points or less. Freshman Quinndary Weatherspoon has found a role as a do-it-all player, and leads the team in scoring (14.9 points per game) in conference games. Senior Craig Sword has found a role as a secondary scorer and his entire game has evolved.
MSU also is playing better defense and doing enough on offense.
“We’re playing better here later in the year,” Howland said. “I just wish we could have won a couple of those early games at Florida or the (Texas) A&M game at home. Hopefully, we’ll play well.”
MSU is allowing 72.9 ppg. Opponents are shooting 43.3 percent from the field.
The Gamecocks are averaging 77.1 ppg. and are shooting 43.1 percent from the field. Senior forward Michael Carrera leads South Carolina with 14.8 ppg., while junior guard Sindari Thornwell is averaging 12.7 and junior guard Duane Notice is averaging 11.4.
After losing back-to-back games to Kentucky and Missouri, South Carolina has regrouped to beat Florida in overtime last Saturday and Tennessee 84-58 on Wednesday.
n In other basketball news, the 1996 Final Four team will be honored at halftime.
It has been 20 years since the Bulldogs won the SEC tournament and made the school’s only appearance in the Final Four.
Richard Williams, who is the color commentator for the MSU men’s basketball games on radio, coached MSU to a 26-8 record that season and wins against VCU, Princeton, Connecticut, and Cincinnati in the NCAA tournament. Syracuse beat MSU in the Final Four.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
