Mississippi State
Univ. of the Cumberlands (Exh.)
State Tops University Of The Cumberlands, 71-60
November 03, 2007 | Men's Basketball
? Official Statistics
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STARKVILLE, Miss. - Sophomore center Jarvis Varnado dominated the Mississippi State Bulldog's first exhibition game and led State to a 71-60 victory over the University of the Cumberlands Patriots Saturday afternoon.
Varnado fell two blocks shy of a triple-double, scoring 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field along with 11 rebounds and eight blocks. Also scoring in double figures for the Bulldogs was all-SEC forward Charles Rhodes with 12 points along with All-American candidate Jamont Gordon and last year's all-SEC freshman Barry Stewart with 11 each.
Varnado's eight blocks would have tied a regular-season single-game record, as the sophomore would have tied or bested his career highs in points scored, field goals made, and blocks. Varnado also led all rebounders on the game.
State's returning SEC-leading three-point defense held the Patriots, who shot 44.3 percent from three a year ago, to 7-of-31 shooting from behind the arc, good for only 22.6 percent and forced 22 Patriot turnovers. Sophomore guard Byron Chad led all scorers on the game with 17 total points on 8-of-21 shooting but turned the ball over eight times.
While the Patriots never led after early in the first stanza, the Bulldogs only held a 32-29 advantage at the half. State then jumped out to a 7-0 run in the beginning of the second stanza, only to see the Patriots temporarily become hot from behind the arc to spark a 6-0 run and pull the score within 1 at the 12:25 mark. With 6:38 remaining in the game, coach Stansbury placed his five starters back on the court and saw his team storm out to a 10-0 run which UC could never overcome.
Mississippi State will continue exhibition action this Tuesday against Oklahoma City, who is ranked atop the preseason NAIA poll for this coming season. Tipoff for the event is set for 7 p.m. CT and will be free of charge.
