Bulldogs, Aggies Collide In Key SEC Matchup
January 05, 2016 | Men's Basketball
Dave Neal and Daymeon Fishback will call the action for the SEC Network broadcast, while Jim Ellis and Richard Williams can be heard on the MSU Radio Network.
Riding a four-game home winning streak, the Bulldogs (7-5) are 45-37 all-time in conference openers, including a 30-17 mark in home games. The Aggies (11-2, 1-0) have won their last four games and will play just its second true road contest of the season.
Texas A&M holds a 4-3 series advantage over MSU, with a 1-1 split in Starkville.
“Defensively they are really good,” MSU coach Ben Howland said. “They force a lot of turnovers, they help each other and create a lot of steals. They are big inside. They have length and size and they also have depth. They keep their bodies fresh to wear their opponent down.”
Through 12 non-conference games, senior Gavin Ware paces MSU offensively with 17.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Freshman Malik Newman tallies 13.3 points an outing and has averaged 16.6 points over the last three contests.
Ware and Newman poured in 16 and 15 points, respectively, in the Bulldogs' last appearance on the hardwood against North Carolina Central. Quinndary Weatherspoon added 14 points and was tied for a game-high four assists in the 71-48 New Year's Eve victory.
Jalen Jones leads the Aggies offensively with 16.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, while Danuel House averages 15.2 points. Tyler Davis, who averages 11.6 points, holds a league-best .761 field gold percentage, and Alex Caruso leads the conference with 2.4 steals an outing. The Aggies also thrive on sharing the ball and lead the SEC with 19.4 assists.
“They have a really good freshman named Tyler Davis who is really going to be a special player,” Howland said. “He is 76 percent from the field right now averaging 12 and 6. He is a load inside which causes a tough matchup because he is so big and really seals and uses his body well. Jalen Jones can shoot the 3's, really athletic and really plays hard. He is very aggressive on the offensive glass. He drives well and gets out and transitions which sets himself up for early feeds in transition.”
Jones scored a career-high 28 points in the Aggies' 92-69 conference-opening win against Arkansas Saturday. Defensively, the Aggies forced 15 Razorback turnovers, complimenting their SEC-leading 16.1 turnovers-forced average.
The Bulldogs will also welcome back former head coach and second-year Aggie assistant Rick Stansbury to Humphrey Coliseum. Stansbury led the Bulldogs from 1999-2012 and amassed a school record 293 wins and two SEC Tournament titles.
He'll be honored prior to tip during a mid-court ceremony.
“I think I made it clear with how much respect I have for Rick Stansbury in all that he has giving to Mississippi State in the basketball program, starting as an assistant coach,” Howland said. “He was the lead recruiter for many of those teams that Richard Williams coached. He did an unbelievable job as the head coach for 14 years. I am excited for him. He gave his heart and soul to this place. I hope that the fans will come early and be there to honor him.”
MSU is also offering a special ticket offer where students can bring friends for $5 each. Free pizza will also be available while supplies last. In addition, the halftime entertainment will be the Bama Air Dogs.
After Wednesday's matchup, the Bulldogs hit the road for a pair of SEC bouts against Arkansas and Kentucky before returning to home to face Tennessee Jan. 16.
