STARKVILLE — Most programs have somebody they just can’t seem to beat.
Given the historical success of both Alabama football and Kentucky men’s basketball, Mississippi State’s bugaboos against both teams make sense.
The Bulldogs have lost 15 straight on the gridiron to the Crimson Tide. On the hardwood against the Wildcats, they now have one win in their past 18 contests.
But while Alabama remains a force — the Tide was ranked for all 15 of those matchups and was No. 1 for six of them — Kentucky has fallen off some.
Even still, Mississippi State has a problem it can’t seem to solve.
Wednesday night presented a great opportunity to do so. MSU had won five straight. Kentucky had lost two in a row. Humphrey Coliseum was packed for its “white-out” game, with fans in the lower seating bowl decked out in giveaway T-shirts.
“I walked out, and it was just a whole bunch of white,” Mississippi State redshirt senior forward/center Tolu Smith said. “I was amazed, and I was thrilled.”
The final score, despite all that? Kentucky 71, MSU 68.
The Wildcats powered their way to victory in Starkville behind a 38-22 rebounding advantage, including an 18-7 edge on the offensive glass. They led for 35 minutes and 13 seconds, taking the crowd largely out of the game.
“We didn’t play our best tonight,” Mississippi State coach Chris Jans said. “I’ve got to give Kentucky a lot of credit. I thought they played really well.”
That hasn’t tended to be the case for the Wildcats this season.
Kentucky still holds a 17-9 record — the same as MSU — and an 8-5 Southeastern Conference mark. But like the Bulldogs, the Cats are on the NCAA tournament bubble, and prior to Wednesday night, they might have been on the wrong side.
Wins over Tennessee and Texas A&M have been marred by losses to Georgia and South Carolina. Kentucky was without guards Sahvir Wheeler and CJ Fredrick for Wednesday’s game; coach John Calipari said his team was “running on fumes” in the final minutes.
It didn’t matter. The Wildcats hit their free throws down the stretch, avoiding an MSU comeback and leaving the Hump with a victory.
“To get out with a win against a team that’s been on fire right now was a big deal for us,” Calipari said.
That’s basically how it’s been whenever Kentucky visits Starkville: The Wildcats win, no matter the circumstances.
It was true in 2021, when little-used reserve Dontaie Allen scored 23 points off the bench in a double-overtime UK victory at the Hump. Kentucky finished just 9-16 in the shortened season, and MSU got its revenge in the SEC tournament: Its first win over the Wildcats since February 3, 2009.
It was true in 2010, when Mississippi State students got hold of Kentucky star DeMarcus Cousins’ phone number and wouldn’t stop dialing. Cousins mimed a “call me” gesture after a basket in the Wildcats’ overtime win in Starkville — a signal Calipari mimicked after Wednesday’s game.
“It’s always crazy here,” he said. “It’s been nuts every time we’ve played here.”
The latest matchup was no different.
Humphrey Coliseum reached a crescendo when MSU guard Shakeel Moore slammed home a fastbreak dunk on Adou Thiero early in the second half. On the next possession, Dashawn Davis finished a layup plus the foul as the crowd got loud again.
Mississippi State’s lead was three, tied for its biggest margin of the game.
From there, Kentucky went on an 18-2 run and held on for the three-point win.
A lot is different about the Bulldogs this season. But their first test against the Wildcats was the same as it ever was.
“Credit to Kentucky,” Smith said. “They did a great job.”
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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