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SEC Recap: Mississippi State vs. South Carolina

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 14, 2009

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Mississippi State guard Barry Stewart was not much of a factor during the first half against South Carolina.

Stewart scored only three points by halftime and made one of two shots, but he became the X-factor in the second half.

Stewart finished with a game-high 21 points, making four of six shots from behind the arc, during Mississippi State's 14-point win.

"I just felt it," Stewart said. "You know, sometimes you just feel it. When the shot's falling you keep shooting. The step back behind the 3-point line is a move I worked on. I don't shoot it much, but I was feeling it tonight."

JARVIS' BLOCK PARTY

Bulldogs junior center Jarvis Varnado has hosted several block parties in college, but no resident assistant is bold enough to throw him off campus.

Varnado had six blocks and 12 points against South Carolina. He leads the nation with 152 blocks this season and has 376 in his career.

"I'm all about winning," Varnado said. "We got a good win against a good South Carolina team. I hope we keep winning today against LSU."

GRABBING LOTS OF RESPECT

Mississippi State is not known for being a power under the basket, but the Bulldogs have become a force down low.

The Bulldogs outrebounded South Carolina 50-36 on Friday, and grabbed more boards (33-32) during an opening-round victory against Georgia.

"I like seeing that stat," Bulldogs coach Rick Stansbury said. "I haven't seen that stat very much this year. That's a stat where we've kind of put our programs together with over the years, outrebounding folks and playing with toughness.

"I will say this, over the last two-and-a-half weeks we've gotten better in that area. That's two opponents in a row we've outrebounded. That's a first all year."

DIGITS

2: Times South Carolina was defeated by Mississippi State this season

3: Lead changes between South Carolina and Mississippi State

4: Bulldogs players who scored in double digits

8: 3-pointers made by Mississippi State

10: Rebounds by Mississippi State guard Dee Bost, who had no rebounds against Georgia

20: Team-high points from South Carolina guard Zam Fredrick

21: Wins Mississippi State and South Carolina each have this season

46.6: Bulldogs' shooting percentage (27 of 58)

13,306: People attended Friday afternoon's session

Anwar S. Richardson

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