Mississippi State Faces First Road Test At Belmont On Sunday

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State women's basketball faces its first road test of the early season when it travels to Nashville to take on Belmont on Sunday, Nov. 19 inside Curb Event Center at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

GAME INFORMATION
Mississippi State (4-0) at Belmont (2-1)
Date: Sunday, Nov. 19 | Time: 2 p.m. CT
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Watch: ESPN+ (Talent: Dr. Rich Tiner, Jenny Bream; Sideline: Landen Secrest)
Listen: MSU Radio Network - Starkville 96.1 (Play-By-Play: Jason Crowder)

Fans who are not expected to make the trip can follow action on ESPN+ through the link above or their affiliate radio station with play-by-play radio talent Jason Crowder. Live statistics will be available through the link above at statbroadcast.com.

Sunday will be the fourth series meeting between Mississippi State and Belmont. Mississippi State leads the series 2-1 overall and 1-0 in Nashville. The two programs last faced in a 66-51 road win for Mississippi State on Nov. 15, 2007.

Mississippi State will also be the third SEC member – Missouri and Georgia – that Belmont has faced in its first four contests.

One of the trends to watch on Sunday will come from behind the three-point line. Belmont is currently attempting 27.7 threes per game, which is top 20 nationally, while Mississippi State leads the SEC and stands 21st nationally in only allowing opponents to convert on 19.5 percent from behind the arc. The Bruins have ranked inside the top-25 in three-point field goals made per game in each of the last three seasons and are currently connecting on 8.0 threes per game through its initial portion of the season.

Belmont enters the contest with a 2-1 record following a pair of consecutive home wins over Wichita State and Georgia. Four Bruins are averaging double-digit points per game, led by reigning Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Week guard Jailyn Banks with 16.3.

It is expected to be a battle on the boards on Sunday between the two teams. Mississippi State is pulling down 52.5 rebounds per contest, which ranks eighth nationally and is outrebounding opponents by an average margin of +22.5 each time it takes the floor. Belmont has recorded 42 rebounds in each of its last two contests; however, the Bulldogs have outrebounded all four of its opponents this season and are 25-2 under head coach Sam Purcell when achieving that feat.

The Bulldogs' defense shined through the four-game homestand to open the schedule. Mississippi State leads the nation in scoring defense, only allowing 39.8 points per game, while ranking sixth with a 26.9 percent field-goal percentage defense and eighth nationally with 7.5 blocks per game. The Bulldogs have forced 15 or more turnovers in all four games and 10-plus steals in three of the four.

The statistics on the defensive end all come without fouling for Mississippi State, which ranks second nationally with only 9.0 fouls per game. This will benefit the Bulldogs when it tips off Sunday with a Bruins' team that has made 20 free throws in consecutive contests.

The defense was on full display last time out in an 87-26 home win over New Orleans on Wednesday. The 61-point win marks the largest margin of victory under Purcell and the largest since Nov. 15, 2019. The 26 points allowed were the fewest since the Bulldogs surrendered 25 points to Savannah State on Nov. 29, 2015.

Mississippi State's bench added 25 points in the effort for the third-straight game. The Bulldogs benefited from four players in double figures, while all 10 players totaled 10-plus minutes.

Mississippi State connected on 57.1 percent from the field in its latest win, the second-straight game surpassing the 50-percent mark and the eighth time under Purcell. The Bulldogs have scored 80 or more points in consecutive contests and are averaging 78.8 points per game after the initial homestand.

Following the road trip, Mississippi State will head to Houston over Thanksgiving break to compete in three games at the 2023 Van Chancellor Classic from Nov. 24-26.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Mississippi State Faces First Road Test At Belmont On Sunday

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