Mississippi State
(4-3)
Murray State
(3-2)
Bulldogs Get Back To Winning Ways; Down Murray State 78-61
December 01, 2007 | Men's Basketball
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Coming off consecutive losses to 18th-ranked
On the heels of posting his eighth career double-double, including a season-high 25 points, against Miami of Ohio this past Sunday in California, Rhodes hit 8-of-14 field goals and 6-of-6 from the line versus Murray State to produce a second straight 20-point outing for the second time in his four-year State career.
The Bulldogs built a 39-24 halftime advantage on the strength of 58-percent shooting through the opening 20 minutes, while limiting Murray to 32-percent first-half accuracy. After the visitors cut the deficit to single digits (47-38) three minutes into the second stanza, MState went on a 17-4 run to increase the margin to a game-high 22 points (64-42) midway through the closing period.
Preseason all-America candidate Jamont Gordon followed with 15 points and added four assists and four rebounds for the winners, while sophomore guard Barry Stewart contributed 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting along with five boards and four steals. Sophomore center Tony Easley paced
As a team, the Bulldogs shot 52 percent from the field for the contest and outscored the Pacers from the line, 18-3, with a season-best 78 percent (18-23 FTs) from the charity stripe.
With the 17-point triumph, MSU has won 22 consecutive December home games dating back to 2000-01 and is now 29-1 in December home contests during the Stansbury era. Stansbury, now 189-107 in his State career, also needs two more victories to tie Richard Williams for the top spot on the school's career wins list.
Following final exams during the coming week, the Bulldogs resume their current three-game homestand by playing host to
