Dogs, Rebs Collide In Key SEC Rivalry Showdown
January 22, 2016 | Men's Basketball
The 1 p.m. tip will be televised on SEC Network with Matt Stewart and John Pelphrey on the call. Fans can also tune in to the MSU Radio Network to hear the commentary of Jim Ellis and Richard Williams.
The game is being dubbed as a “StarkVegas Black Out” and all fans are encouraged to wear black. In addition the first 1,000 students will receive free StarkVegas T-shirts, and there will be free pizza while supplies last.
I.J. Ready paced the Bulldogs (7-10, 0-5) with 20 points in the 81-78 setback against Florida, while Craig Sword added 17. Ready's performance marked the second time the senior eclipsed 20 points in a game the season, as he tallied 25 in the season opener against Eastern Washington.
Mississippi State claims the all-time series against Ole Miss (12-6, 2-4) with a 141-111 advantage. Saturday's game marks the 253rd meeting, making it the oldest rivalry in the SEC. The Bulldogs seek to keep their home-court advantage as they have claimed 15 of the last 17 in the series played at Humphrey Coliseum.
Ole Miss took No. 24 South Carolina down to the wire in the Rebels' last appearance on the hardwood, ultimately falling 77-74 in overtime. Stefan Moody led the Rebels with 24 points while Marcanvis Hymon added 10 points and nine rebounds.
Moody paces the Rebels offensively with a league-leading 24.3 points per game. His scoring averaging also ranks sixth nationally. The senior has scored 20-plus points in 13-straight games and has eclipsed the 30-point mark three times this season.
“It's the biggest game of the year for Mississippi State, as it is for Ole Miss every year in terms of the rivalry,” MSU coach Ben Howland said. “I've been in rivalries before, and this one is very special. People here at Mississippi State care more about beating Ole Miss than they do about any other game of the year.”
Following Saturday's contest, Mississippi State hits the road for a two-game road swing. The Bulldogs will take on No. 24 South Carolina Tuesday before traveling to Missouri next Saturday.
Other Promotions
- FREE Bully's Kidz Kourt opens at 11:30am (featured guests: MSU Softball Team)
- FREE glow sticks while they last
- DJ “T-Money”
