Austin, Patterson Lead Bulldogs To SEC Final
May 25, 2016 | Men's Basketball
| LSU defender Ronald Dupree pressures Mario Austin. (AP Photo/Dave Martin) |
Now, they're one victory from heading to the NCAAs on a similar roll.
Mario Austin scored 17 points and Marckell Patterson hit a key basket with 25.5 seconds remaining, leading Mississippi State past LSU 57-51 in the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament Saturday.
The Bulldogs (25-7), one win from tying the school record set by their memorable '96 team, held LSU scoreless over the last 3:47.
"I don't think we had anything to prove," Patterson said. "We just try to win games and let other people talk about it."
Despite its lofty record, Mississippi State spent only one week in The Associated Press poll this season.
"We don't worry about things we can't control," coach Rick Stansbury said. "All we can control is what's between those lines."
LSU (18-14) will likely have to settle for an NIT berth. The Tigers reached the SEC semifinals by upsetting No. 17 Georgia.
"It was a close game that just slipped from our hands," said Ronald Dupree, the team's leading scorer who was held to seven points. "Down the stretch, they made shots with the clock running down."
LSU scored its last basket on a putback by Jason Williams with 3:47 remaining. Williams, fouled on the play, added the free throw to give LSU a 51-50 lead.
Mississippi State scored the game's final seven points, including a couple of free throws by Austin with 58.6 seconds remaining for a 53-51 lead.
From that point, LSU simply had trouble getting the ball inbounds against State's fullcourt press. Torris Bright lost it along the sideline, the sixth turnover of the game for the Tigers' point guard.
The Bulldogs ran down the shot clock before Patterson, with a quick crossover dribble, beat Bright above the foul line and banked in a shot that pushed the lead to 55-51.
Derrick Zimmerman stole the ball again on the ensuing inbounds play, his fifth takeaway of the game, to seal the victory for Mississippi State.
"They thrive on their athleticism, making the other team turn it over," LSU coach John Brady said.
The Bulldogs have won seven in a row since their last loss, 68-65 at LSU on Feb. 13.
"Sometimes you have to find a way to win when you don't play your best," Stansbury said. "In the last few minutes, we made some defensive plays that helped us win the game."
Mississippi State won despite shooting just 18-of-51 (35 percent) from the field. LSU wasn't much better -- 18-of-46 (39 percent) -- and had trouble matching up inside against Austin and the rest of State's taller, deeper front line.
"It was an ugly game tonight with the LSU zone," Patterson said.
Austin made only four of 15 shots but had six offensive rebounds, leading to repeated fouls. He hit nine of 10 free throws and forced LSU's bulkiest player, 6-foot-8 Brad Bridgewater, to foul out with 8:10 remaining.
LSU started 2-8 in conference play, including a six-game losing streak. The Tigers were trying to become only the third team in the tournament's modern era to win four games in four days -- probably the only way they would have made the NCAA tourney.
The Tigers won their lone SEC tournament title 22 years ago.
"I'm not making excuses and I'm not apologizing," Brady said. "We righted the ship in midseason and won seven of nine down the stretch."
Antonio Hudson led LSU with 16 points and averaged 21 in three tournament games. Hudson and Austin were the only players in double figures.
Mississippi State led 31-28 at halftime after a play that foreshadowed the ending. Ontario Harper stole the ball from Bright, leading to a three-point play.
LSU (18-14)
Dupree 4-11 0-0 8, Williams 1-5 6-6 8, Bridgewater 2-5 0-0 4, Bright 3-10 2-2 9, Hudson 6-10 2-4 16, Thompson 0-0 0-0 0, Davis 0-0 0-0 0, Wilson 2-5 2-5 6. Totals 18-46 12-17 51.
MISSISSIPPI STATE (25-7)
Gholar 2-4 1-2 7, Patterson 3-5 1-3 8, Austin 4-15 9-10 17, Ignerski 3-8 0-0 7, Zimmerman 2-6 1-3 5, Goffer 0-0 0-0 0, Gardner 1-2 0-0 2, Bowers 2-7 3-5 8, Harper 1-4 1-1 3, Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Stidham 0-0 0-0 0, Carr 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-51 16-24 57.
Halftime -- Mississippi St. 31-28. 3-Point goals -- LSU 3-13 (Hudson 2-3, Bright 1-4, Dupree 0-3, Williams 0-3), Mississippi St. 5-21 (Gholar 2-4, Patterson 1-3, Ignerski 1-4, Bowers 1-5, Austin 0-1, Zimmerman 0-1, Gardner 0-1, Harper 0-2). Fouled out -- Dupree, Bridgewater. Rebounds -- LSU 30 (Wilson 7), Mississippi St. 35 (Gholar 9). Assists -- LSU 6 (Bright 3), Mississippi St. 10 (Zimmerman 5). Total fouls -- LSU 20, Mississippi St. 19. A -- N/A.
