Last-Second WVU Trey Falls Bulldogs In NIT Semifinals, 63-62

Tuesday, March 27

New York, N.Y.

6:00 PM

Mississippi State

(21-14)

West Virginia

(26-9)

Team	1	2	F
West Virginia	0	63	63
Mississippi State	0	62	62

Last-Second WVU Trey Falls Bulldogs In NIT Semifinals, 63-62

March 27, 2007 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

* Official Statistics
* Official Statistics (PDF)

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Mississippi State's impressive run in the National Invitation Tournament ended Tuesday night, as West Virginia hit a last-second, three-pointer to best the Bulldogs 63-62 in the semifinals of the tournament at Madison Square Garden.

State ended its season at 21-14 overall. WVU improved to 26-9 and advances to Thursday night's championship game.

State was led Tuesday night by senior Dietric Slater's 18 points. Jamont Gordon and Charles Rhodes followed with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Darris Nichols, who provided the last-second heroics with his three-point game winner, led the Mountaineers with 17 points.

WVU led most of the first half, before State's Barry Stewart nailed a three-pointer at the 2:49 mark to hand MSU a 27-25 advantage. The Bulldogs extended that lead to four, 32-28, at halftime.

MSU scored the first seven points of the second half to run its lead out to 11 at 39-28. State maintained a double-digit advantage for most of the first part of the period, until a Frank Young trey cut the lead to 48-39 with 12:13 to go.

The Mountaineers slowly ate away at the Bulldog edge down the stretch and gained a one-point lead on two free throws by Jamie Smalligan with 53 seconds left. MSU answered eight seconds later when Stewart nailed a jumper.

After WVU had three shots on goal, a foul sent Gordon to the line for the Bulldogs, where he made one to put State up 62-60 with 16 seconds remaining in regulation.

Nichols missed a three attempt, but an offensive rebound with 2.1 seconds to go gave the Mountaineers one last attempt. The inbounds went to Nichols on the left side for his dramatic three-point game winner.