Mississippi State
23-11, 9-7
#2 Kentucky
32-2, 14-2
No. 2 UK Edges Bulldogs 75-74 In OT In SEC Title Game
March 14, 2010 | Men's Basketball
• Official Statistics
• Official Statistics (PDF)
• Postgame Notes & Quotes
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Mississippi State's valiant effort fell short as the Bulldogs lost 75-74 to No. 2 Kentucky in the championship game of the Southeastern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena.
The Wildcats won their 26th conference tournament title, while snapping the Bulldogs' six-game, two-season win streak in the same event. MSU now must await its postseason fate when the NCAA announces its 65-team tournament field, at 5 p.m. CT tonight on both ESPN and CBS.
MSU hung with one of the nation's elite basketball teams from the opening tip. However, UK found a way to win in overtime for a second time this season. The Bulldogs led a five-point lead slip in the final minute as DeMarcus Cousins scored on a putback with 0.1 seconds left in regulation.
In the overtime, John Wall hit an off-balanced 3-pointer with 27 seconds left which served as the back-breaker. The Bulldogs trailed by five after that trey. MSU got a putback on the offensive end. After Cousins made one free throw for the Wildcats, Riley Benock hit a 3-pointer as time expired to create the final margin.
"I've been in the locker room a lot of times, walked into it in the last 12 years, win some and lose some," said MSU head coach Rick Stansbury, who is now 2-2 in SEC Tournament championship games. "But I've never walked into a locker room where I'm more proud of a bunch of guys for what they did out there today. For any person watching this game, how could you not be absolutely amazed at what these guys did against one of the most talented teams in the country."
The Bulldogs held a seven point lead in the final two minutes of a 81-75 overtime loss at home last month. The contest was just as tight. The score was tied 12 times and the lead changed hands an amazing 20 times. Neither team led by more than five. MSU enjoyed a five-point lead lead in both halves, while UK did not enjoy its five-point push until the final half-minute of overtime.
The SEC Tournament championship game was decided by a single point for the second time ever and moved into an overtime period for the first time since 1995. The matchup pitted the top two seeds in the tournament final for the first time since 2003. The Bulldogs had set a school record with six straight tournament wins, grabbing two victories this year after winning all four postseason games in this event last year.
Still, the Bulldogs attempted to defend their title until the end. MSU used a more deliberate style of offense to save some energy for the final run. On the rebounding and defensive ends, the Bulldogs hung tough, even enjoying a 43-37 rebounding advantage.
UK put together an early 8-0 run to grab a 13-9 lead on a Patrick Patterson dunk. The Bulldogs bounced back and grabbed the lead on a Riley Benock basket at 14-13. The Bulldogs then grabbed a 27-22 lead on a Jarvis Varnado putback. UK again forced another tie before MSU scored the final four points of the opening half to grab a 35-31 lead at the intermission.
The Wildcats scored the first five points of the second half but could not pull away. MSU righted the ship and the game went back-and-forth before a monstrous dunk by Varnado made it 59-55 Bulldogs with 3:58 left. The Bulldogs ran the lead to 62-57 on a Ravern Johnson 3-pointer with 2:20 left.
However, UK scored on an offensive rebound and then scored again on a steal and layup by Wall with 40 seconds left. The Bulldogs still appeared to be in good shape when Barry Stewart hit two free throws with 7.3 seconds left.
Stewart fouled out on the next possession as the Bulldogs sent UK to the line trying to protect a 3-point lead. Eric Bledsoe hit the first free throw, missed the second and Cousins saved the Wildcats on his lay-in with 0.1 seconds left.
"We would foul there every time in that situation, up three," Stansbury said. "Very few times have I ever seen that foul cause somebody not to win a game. You could just as easily give up the 3-point basket and lose in overtime. They had to miss the free throw, get the rebound and score the rebound. They made a great play."
For the contest, the Bulldogs hit 29 of 69 shots from the field (42.0 percent), 10 of 27 shots from 3-point range (37.0 percent) and 6 of 11 shots from the foul line (54.5 percent). The Wildcats hit 28 of 61 shots from the field (45.9 percent), 4 of 16 shots from 3-point range (25.0 percent) and 15 of 24 shots from the foul line (62.5 percent).
MSU held a 43-37 rebounding advantage. The Bulldogs had 13 assists and 14 turnovers, while the Wildcats had 16 assists and nine turnovers.
Johnson paced the Bulldogs with 20 points, including four 3-point baskets. Also in double figures were Jarvis Varnado with 18 points, Dee Bost with 16 points and Barry Stewart with 11 points. Stewart added 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
Bledsoe led Kentucky with 18 points, while Wall added 17 points. Patrick Patterson scored 15 points, while Cousins had 10 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.
Both Varnado and Stewart were named to the all-tournament team. UK's Wall was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player.
