Mississippi State
(4-0)
Troy
(1-4)
Bulldogs Hold Off Troy In Overtime, 92-83
November 26, 2010 | Men's Basketball
The Bulldogs moved to 8-0 all-time against Troy, while winning the 100th overtime game in school history. The Bulldogs are 55-45 in those 100 contests. Head coach Rick Stansbury is now 13-12 in overtime decisions.
The Bulldogs (4-0) used three consecutive treys to battled back from the deficit. Ravern Johnson hit the first two, while Riley Benock connected on the final one. The Bulldogs then seized the lead at 65-64 on a Brian Bryant basket with just under four minutes remaining.
MSU moved ahead 74-71 but Bryant missed the front end of a one-plus-one, being unable to close out the victory. The Bulldogs did a get stop on the defensive end but threw the basketball away on the offensive end. With 2.5 seconds remaining, the Trojans went the length of the court with Vernon Taylor hitting a game-tying 3-point basket with regulation time expiring.
“Obviously, we were very fortunate to win the basketball game,” Stansbury said. “We have no margin for error when we play well and are both mentally and emotionally into the game. Obviously, it helps us none when we are not either one of those.
“I could sense from the time we got to the arena tonight it was going to be one of those nights when were not into the game.”
In the overtime period, the Bulldogs held an 18-9 advantage. MSU hit 9 of 10 free throw attempts in the final five minutes. The Maroon and White scored back-to-back baskets to open the extra stanza and the Trojans got no closer than that four point spread for the balance of the game.
“To our credit, in overtime, we made some plays,” Stansbury said. “The end of regulation is on me because we didn't foul. We hit some free throws there at the end and found a way to win.”
Johnson paced the Bulldogs with a career high 33 points, including seven made 3-point baskets. MSU finished with a season-best 12-of-26 night from 3-point range.
“Right now, the scoring load is on me,” Johnson said. “I will be glad to accept that challenge. It was good to get another win. Tuesday, we have another quality opponent coming in and we can't struggle again like this.”
Also in double figures for the Maroon and White were Bryant with 15 points, Riley Benock with 12 points, Kodi Augustus with 11 points and Jalen Steele with 10 points. Augustus had six of his 11 points in the overtime period.
Taylor paced Troy (1-4) with 24 points. Bernard Toombs added 19 points, while Levan Patsatsia scored 15 points. Travis Lee added 12 points and Shawntez Patterson scored 11 points.
The Bulldogs host Florida Atlantic at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
