Bulldogs Return Home To Face Tulane
December 18, 2015 | Men's Basketball
The 3 p.m. tip off will air on SEC Network with Matt Stewart and Mark Wise calling the action. Fans can also tune in to hear Jim Ellis and Richard Williams provide the courtside commentary on the MSU Radio Network.
Also in attendance Saturday will be Santa Clause, who will read “The Night Before Christmas” at halftime on the court with kids. After the game, players will be available for autographs in the lobby of the Mize.
Craig Sword led the Bulldogs (4-5) in their last outing against Florida State, tying a season-high 20 points in the 90-66 setback. Sword's performance increased his career point total to 1,208, which is best among active conference players.
Gavin Ware and Malik Newman also tallied 13 and 12 points, respectively, against the Seminoles, while Fred Thomas hauled in a season-high nine rebounds.
Saturday will serve as the 94th meeting between the Bulldogs and Green Wave, with MSU holding a 54-39 series advantage. Tulane bested the Bulldogs last season in a 59-54 decision, but MSU has claimed 6 of last 7 matchups.
The Green Wave (6-5) also fell to an ACC opponent Wednesday night in No. 11 North Carolina. Senior Louis Dabney scored 18 points in the 96-72 loss. Malik Morgan added 12 points and Jernard Jarreau recorded in a team-high eight rebounds.
Dabney leads the Green Wave offensively with 14.5 points per game, while Dylan Osetkowski ranks third in the American Athletic Conference with 9.1 boards per game.
Following Saturday's action, Mississippi State will face Northern Colorado on Wednesday in a neutral-site game at Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.
