Bulldogs Start Two-Game Road Swing At South Carolina
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Following a historical night on Wednesday at Humphrey Coliseum where one NCAA record was set and a school mark was broken, Mississippi State hits the road for a two-game stretch starting with South Carolina on Saturday in a game televised by ESPN.
Tip at Colonial Life Arena is slated for 5 p.m.
The Bulldogs (20-8, 8-5) enter the contest sporting a two-game winning streak and having won four of their last five, while the Gamecocks (14-13, 5-8) are looking to end a four-game slide following their 82-61 setback to No. 2 Kentucky on Thursday.
MSU leads the overall series against USC 13-8 and is 5-4 in Columbia, the only road venue in the SEC the Bulldogs hold an advantage. Overall, the Dawgs have won three-straight against Carolina.
Mississippi State is riding the momentum of its 74-66 victory against Alabama, where MSU posted its 16th 20-win season in school history, the ninth with Rick Stansbury at the helm.
Yet, the night will be forever remembered for the two records that were broken.
First, senior co-captain Barry Stewart broke Darryl Wilson's school record of 258 made 3-pointers. Shortly afterward, fellow senior co-captain Jarvis Varnado became the NCAA career leader with 536 blocked shots.
He's currently the only MSU student-athlete that holds an NCAA record.
Outside the historical standpoint, the Bulldogs also regained sole possession of first place in the Western Division thanks to LSU upsetting Arkansas in Baton Rouge.
As for the game at South Carolina, the Bulldogs won their last trip there in overtime, 61-56.
This year, MSU enters the contest led in scoring by Ravern Johnson's 13.7 clip.
Varnado, who recorded his 16th double-double of the year against the Crimson Tide and the 31st of his career, is averaging 13.3 points and an SEC best 10.9 rebounds. Also in double-digits are Bost and Stewart at 12.6 and 11.3 points, respectively.
South Carolina is paced by Devan Downey's 22.7 points, tops in the SEC.
After Saturday, Mississippi State travels to Auburn on Wednesday before returning home to face Tennessee on Senior Night in the regular-season finale on March 6.