By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Feb. 26, 2004
STARKVILLE Mississippi State University hit LSU with almost as much force as the rain pounding on the outside of Humphrey Coliseum on Wednesday night.
The No. 7-ranked Bulldogs (21-2, 11-2 Southeastern Conference) ran out to a 12-3 lead in the game's opening 2 1/2 minutes, as they went on to claim an 84-58 win over the Tigers (17-7, 7-6 SEC).
With the win, MSU clinched its second consecutive SEC Western Division championship, and it kept its one-game lead over Kentucky in the overall conference standings. Kentucky defeated Tennessee 92-60.
The Bulldogs kept their celebration low key, as they didn't cut down the nets following the division-clinching win.
The victory also marked the second time this season that the Bulldogs, who lost to Alabama last Saturday, bounced back from a defeat with a double-digit win over the Tigers.
MSU defeated LSU 64-54 on Jan. 17, after the Bulldogs suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of Kentucky on Jan. 13.
The Bulldogs sprinkled in extra minutes from its reserve players, as Stansbury looks for options to help rest his starters.
MSU center Marcus Campbell, who began the year as a starter, logged 11 minutes of playing time. He scored eight points and grabbed a pair of rebounds.
Backup point guard Gary Ervin knocked down four points and dished out two assists in 16 minutes of play.
With the reserve players logging additional minutes, MSU's starters spread out the points.
Four starters tallied double digits in the win. Roberts led the way for the Bulldogs with 14 points, and Bowers and Winsome Frazier each scored 13 points. Shane Power chipped in 12.
LSU also posted a quartet of double-digit scorers, led by Darrel Mitchell's 14 points. Tack Minor scored 13 points for the Tigers, and Antonio Hudson added 12. Jamie Lloreda, who missed the team's game against Vanderbilt, scored 10 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
After weathering MSU's initial onslaught, LSU rained down some three-pointers to get back into the ballgame.
Tigers guard Darrell Mitchell hit three shots from behind the arc to pull within 23-19 of the Bulldogs' lead, with 11:24 to play in the first half.
MSU stormed back after LSU pulled to within four points of the lead, going on an 11-0 run over the next three minutes to take a 34-19 lead, with 8:45 left in the first.
MSU ended the first half holding a 46-30 lead, and the Bulldogs started the second half on a 10-4 run in the opening five minutes for a 56-34 advantage.
MSU built its lead up to 63-38 with 12 1/2 minutes left in the game, as the Bulldogs outscored the Tigers 46-18 in the paint.
The Bulldogs continue their season on the road against Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. Saturday.