Bulldogs Get Back On Track With 76-62 Road Win Over Georgia
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- Lawrence Roberts shook off the effects of a bruised quadricep, contributing 19 points and 12 rebounds to Mississippi State's 76-62 victory over Georgia Wednesday night.
Roberts concentrated his points at the end of each half, scoring 10 in the last seven minutes of the first half and seven in a span of two and a half minutes in the second half. Shane Power scored 15 for Mississippi State (19-8, 7-6 Southeastern Conference), which ended a five-game SEC road losing streak. Gary Ervin and Winsome Frazier scored 12 apiece.
Channing Toney led Georgia (8-16, 2-11) with 14 points, followed by Levi Stukes with 13 and Sundiata Gaines and Dave Bliss with 10 apiece.
Georgia led most of the first half, its biggest lead 22-16 after Channing Toney's trey halfway through the half.
But Mississippi State closed the half with a 19-8 run to take a 43-36 halftime lead.
After Frazier's short jumper on Mississippi State's first possession of the second half, State went seven straight trips without a point and Georgia cut the gap to 45-40 on Gaines' transition layup.
Stukes' running jumper cut the lead to 48-44 with 13:48 to go, but Mississippi State scored eight straight points, capped by a 3-pointer by Jamall Edmondson with 12:11 to go back up 56-44.
Georgia rallied again, and two free throws by Gaines with 8:55 to go cut the gap to 59-54.
Roberts then scored all seven of his second-half points State again built a double-digit lead.
Mississippi State seniors Frazier and Campbell became the winningest players in school history, improving their four-year career record to 93-30. Timmy Bowers, a senior last year, played on teams that compiled a 92-35 record in four years.