SEC Champs! State Holds Off Alabama For Title
May 25, 2016 | Men's Basketball
| Mario Austin cuts down a souvenir at the Georgia Dome. (HIG Photo/Jim Wilkeson) |
Largely ignored much of the season, the Bulldogs won their second Southeastern Conference tournament title and earned an automatic NCAA bid with a 61-58 victory over regular-season champion Alabama on Sunday.
Mississippi State (26-7) matched the school record for victories, set by the 1996 team that won the first tournament championship and went on the Final Four.
Not bad for a team that made a one-week appearance in The Associated Press rankings back in early January, then quickly fell out.
"This was a showcase, to show people how good a basketball team we are," coach Rick Stansbury said. "I know this team has earned respect now."
Tournament MVP Mario Austin led the Bulldogs with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Timmy Bowers and Derrick Zimmerman hit consecutive 3-pointers late in the game.
Michael Gholar made two free throws with five seconds remaining and Bowers made a key defensive play, knocking the ball away from Maurice Williams as the Alabama point guard crossed midcourt, trying to get in position for a tying 3-pointer.
Williams also missed a 3 with about eight seconds to go after Mississippi State triple-teamed Rod Grizzard, who scored 17 points.
SEC player of the year Erwin Dudley led the Crimson Tide with 18 points. He went down hard on a drive to the basket with 1:26 remaining, holding the back of his head when he finally got to the bench.
Dudley returned for the final 53 seconds, but didn't get off another shot.
Mississippi State improved to 15-0 when holding an opponent to less than 65 points.
"We knew it would be tough," said Austin, who averaged 14 points in three tournament games. "I just kind of went to war with my team."
Alabama (26-7) won the regular-season championship by two games and hoped to add its first tournament title since 1991. Instead, Mississippi State gave a big boost to its NCAA credentials.
The Bulldogs will be appearing in the elite field for the first time since their landmark '96 season.
Alabama trailed much of the game, finally taking its first lead, 45-44, when Dudley put back his own miss with 9 1/2 minutes to go. The Crimson Tide's final lead was 52-50, on Meade's two free throws with just under five minutes left.
Bowers put the Bulldogs ahead to stay when he swished a 3-pointer with 3:51 remaining. Zimmerman followed with another as the shot clock was winding down, giving State a 57-52 edge with 2:40 remaining.
| Michal Ignerski launches a shot over Alabama's Rod Grizzard during the first half. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) |
Zimmerman's 3 came after the intended play broke down.
"I had missed a similar shot in the first half and Coach said to me, 'Don't worry about it. You'll get another chance to knock in a big shot."' Zimmerman said.
"When it left my hand, I knew it was good. I pointed to the coach and he had a big smile on his face."
Austin's backdoor pass to Zimmerman resulted in a layup with 1:54 to go, putting Mississippi State up 59-54. Meade hit a couple of free throws, Austin missed and Grizzard added two more foul shots to pull Alabama within 59-58.
Zimmerman was fouled with 24 seconds left but missed the free throw, giving Alabama a chance for the win. The streaky Grizzard, who scored a career-high 33 points in the quarterfinals, was surrounded by three players as soon as he touched the ball.
He passed across the court to Williams, who hoisted a shot from at least 5 feet behind the 3-point line. It missed, Gholar rebounded and was fouled.
"No one gave an inch," Zimmerman said. "We had to take whatever we could get."
Austin dominated on the inside in the early going, scoring eight points and grabbing six rebounds before the game was 10 minutes old.
Mississippi State extended its lead to 30-20 when Austin made two foul shots with 4:28 remaining. The Bulldogs were held scoreless the rest of the half, but Alabama didn't take full advantage of the drought.
Grizzard missed on a couple of 1-and-1s, but he got open at the top of the key and sank a 3-pointer with 26 seconds left, closing the gap to 30-25 at halftime.
Grizzard has 11 points in the first half, including Alabama's final eight.
MISSISSIPPI STATE (26-7)
Gholar 1-3 2-2 4, Ignerski 5-14 1-4 13, Austin 5-12 5-6 15, Zimmerman 6-12 0-1 13, Patterson 1-4 1-2 3, Campbell 0-0 0-0 0, Gardner 0-0 0-0 0, Bowers 3-7 1-2 9, Harper 1-3 0-0 2, Smith 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 23-56 10-17 61.
ALABAMA (26-7)
Dudley 7-13 4-4 18, Walker 2-5 2-4 6, Meade 1-3 4-4 6, Grizzard 6-14 2-4 17, Williams 2-10 0-0 5, Shelton 1-2 0-0 3, Smith 0-2 0-0 0, Pettway 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 20-52 12-16 58.
Halftime -- Mississippi State 30-25. 3-Point goals -- Mississippi State 5-16 (Bowers 2-4, Ignerski 2-6, Zimmerman 1-2, Patterson 0-1, Harper 0-1, Gholar 0-2), Alabama 6-21 (Grizzard 3-7, Shelton 1-2, Pettway 1-3, Williams 1-6, Meade 0-1, Smith 0-2). Fouled out -- None. Rebounds -- Mississippi State 35 (Austin 8), Alabama 33 (Dudley, Walker 8). Assists -- Mississippi State 15 (Zimmerman 5), Alabama 10 (Williams 6). Total fouls -- Mississippi State 17, Alabama 15. A -- 16,501.
