Bulldogs Battle Gamecocks Wednesday In Columbia
The game at Colonial Life Arena, televised by the SEC Network, tips at 7 p.m., with Clay Matvick and Barry Booker handling the broadcast.
The Bulldogs enter the contest with a 19-10 overall record, including a 6-8 mark in SEC play. The Gamecocks are 10-18, 2-12.
MSU is also looking to avoid its first sub-.500 mark in SEC play since 2006.
"You have to look past South Carolina's record," 14th-year MSU coach Rick Stansbury said. "They are very athletic and like to get up and down the court. While they have lost a lot of games, they've been close. They just haven't been able to close at the end."
Mississippi State has won the last five in this series, currently its longest streak against any SEC foe. The Bulldogs also own a 65.2 winning percentage, the best against any team in the conference.
In addition, MSU was won its last two games in Columbia by an average of 9.0 points.
"We know what position we've put ourselves in after losing these last couple of games in a row," senior guard Brian Bryant said. "As a team, we're taking it upon ourselves to find out what the problem is within the team on our own without the coach. We're pretty confident about the future."
For the Bulldogs to get back on track, they'll rely heavily on the play of Dee Bost and Arnett Moultrie.
Moultrie is fourth in the SEC in scoring (16.0) and tops with 10.7 rebounds and 16 double-doubles. Against Alabama, though, he was limited to just 7 points on 1-of-3 shooting.
Bost is second on the team in scoring and fifth in the SEC at 15.9 points, while his 62 steals and 146 assists are tops in the league.
"We as players have to take it into our own hands and make plays when we are on the court," Bost said. "When we are not making plays, we have to get defensive stops."
South Carolina is led in scoring by Mailik Cooke and Bruce Ellington at 12.4 and 10.8 points, respectively.
The Gamecocks are also looking to end their three-game losing streak. In their last outing at home against Tennessee on Saturday, they lost, 73-64.
After Wednesday, MSU concludes the regular season at home on Saturday with a 4 p.m. tilt against Arkansas. Prior to the game, all seniors will be recognized. At the half, a banner honoring Jack Cristil will be unveiled.