Mississippi State
(5-0)
St. Bonaventure
(3-2)
Bulldog Cagers Hold Off Bonnies 76-71 For First Road Win Of Season
November 25, 2008 | Men's Basketball
? Official Statistics
? Official Statistics (PDF)
OLEAN, N.Y. - Mississippi State scored the game's final five points to hold off Saint Bonaventure 76-71 in men's college basketball action Tuesday night in the Reilly Center.
The Bulldogs won their first road game of the young season and moved to 5-0 for the first time since the 2003-04 squad won their first 13 games. Still, the contest was not without its dramatic moments at the end. MSU appeared to have things well in hand, taking a 63-48 lead with 9:31 remaining.
However, defensive pressure and some turnovers allowed the Bonnies to stage one final rally. SBU tied the game 71-all on a 3-point basket from Chris Matthews, capping a 10-2 run. The tie was short lived as Twanny Beckham broke the tie by hitting one of two free throws with 1:21 remaining. A basket by Ravern Johnson upped the advantage with 18 seconds remaining. Johnson returned to the line to sink a pair of game-clinching free throws with one second left.
“It is good to take this young team on the road and find a way to win,” MSU head coach Rick Stansbury said. “This is a very challenging week for our ball club. It is good to get off to a good start.”
The contest was nip-and-tuck throughout the opening half. The lead changed hands several times before the Bulldogs used their transition game to ease into a 26-18 advantage. The Bonnies made some noise in the final four minutes of the half, cutting the deficit to 36-34 at the intermission.
The Bulldogs then scored the first four points of the second half, as a putback by Kodi Augustus made it 40-34 MSU. The Bonnies hung tight before the 20-8 run midway through the second half allowed the guests to push the advantage to the game's largest at 63-48.
From there, St. Bonaventure slowly climbed back into the contest. A pair of 3-point baskets by Ray Blackburn sparked the second half rally for the hosts.
Reigning Southeastern Conference player of the week Jarvis Varnado had a huge night for the Bulldogs. Varnado had 19 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks in 34 minutes of play. Varnado had a key block and defensive rebound in the critical possession after the Bulldogs grabbed the 72-71 lead. Ravern Johnson added 18 points and seven rebounds for the Bulldogs.
Ray Blackburn paced the Bonnies with 22 points. Andrew Nicholson scored 13 points, while Chris Matthews and Jonathan Hall each added 10 points.
The Bulldogs resume play Friday in the Legends Classic. MSU and Washington State play at 4:30 p.m. CT in the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The road swing concludes with a final-round matchup in the Legends Classic, against either Pittsburgh or Texas Tech on Saturday.
