December 2004 MSU Basketball Skuttle-Butt

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12/29/04
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Concluding their non-conference, regular-season slate as well as drawing the curtains on the 2004 calendar year, the 21st-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs (11-2) take on the Virginia Tech Hokies (6-4) Thursday evening in the opening game of the 2004 Nokia Sugar Bowl Basketball Classic to be played in New Orleans. The first series meeting between MSU and VT since 1981-82 is slated for a 6:30 p.m. CT tipoff at the New Orleans Arena, and will be followed in the nightcap by the LSU-Florida State matchup. Both contests of this year's Nokia Sugar Bowl Basketball Classic will be televised by FSN South and the Sunshine Network, with Dave Neal calling the play-by-play action, Larry Conley providing the color analysis and Preston Scott serving as the host of the basketball doubleheader.

Ranked 21st in this week's Associated Press Top 25 and 24th nationally in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, coach Rick Stansbury's Bulldogs own an 11-2 overall record on the season. Their lone losses this year have come against a pair of nationally ranked foes in Syracuse and Arizona at the prestigious Coaches vs. Cancer Classic and John R. Wooden Classic events, respectively. Owners of a five-game winning streak, the Bulldogs most recently knocked off Florida A&M, 104-80, at home and beat Jacksonville State, 95-53, in Jackson on Dec. 20 and 22, respectively. The week prior to that, MSU extended its overall road winning streak to 14 consecutive games dating back to last season's perfect 12-0 road ledger by prevailing at the University of New Orleans (74-59) on Dec. 13 and also winning at Xavier University in Cincinnati (80-74) on Dec. 18.

As a team, Mississippi State appears to have found its offensive rhythm of late by having connected on 54 percent of its field-goal attempts as well as being credited with 21 assists during each of the team's last three contests. For the season, the Bulldogs are now shooting 45.1 percent from the field collectively and averaging 75.3 points per game. On the defensive end of the court, MSU enters this week's action leading the SEC in rebounding (43.5 rpg), rebounding margin (+9.8 rpg) and three-point field goal percentage defense (27.6%), while ranking second in the league in field goal percentage defense (37.6%). In their 95-53 pre-Christmas win over Jacksonville State in Jackson, the Bulldogs posted their largest single-game rebound margin (+38; 59-21) during the Stansbury era. Bidding for an unprecedented fifth consecutive SEC rebound margin statistical title as a team, State also outrebounded Arkansas-Little Rock by a sizable 55-23 margin earlier this season.

Individually, the Bulldogs are powered on the interior by the current SEC Player of the Week Lawrence Roberts, who enters the new week ranked tied for fourth among the SEC's scoring leaders (17.8 ppg) as well as leading the league in rebounding (10.9 rpg). Most recently, the senior forward totaled 22 points and 20 rebounds in just 24 minutes of action against Jacksonville State to become the Bulldogs' first 20-20 performer since Rickey Brown (1979-80). Over the last five contests since playing without his protective face mask (broken nose on Nov. 4 and subsequent surgery), the reigning SEC Player of the Year is shooting 60 percent (36-60 FGs) from the field, along with averaging 21.6 points and 11.4 rebounds per outing.

On the perimeter, seniors Winsome Frazier (14.5 ppg; 14th in SEC) and Shane Power (10.7 ppg) are both scoring in double figures for the season, in addition to connecting on 37 and 38 percent of their respective 3-pointers on the year. Power, a former transfer from Iowa State, needs just three more points to reach the 1,000-point mark for his career. Sophomore point guard Gary Ervin has raced to the top of the assists leaderboard among the SEC after totaling 39 assists and just 10 turnovers over his last four contests. He has handed out 14 and 10 assists in his last two games against Florida A&M and Jacksonville State, respectively.

Currently competing in their inaugural season within the powerful Atlantic Coast Conference, the Hokies of Virginia Tech are 6-4 on the year after claiming a 67-54 home victory over Morgan State this past Monday. Guided by second-year head coach Seth Greenberg, Virginia Tech had dropped four of its last five decisions prior to the Christmas holiday, including an 85-51 home setback to nationally ranked North Carolina in the team's ACC debut back on Dec. 19. With five players averaging 8.3 points per game or better on the season, the Hokies are led in scoring by sophomore guard Zabian Dowdell and senior swingman Carlos Dixon at 14.5 and 14.1 points per contest, respectively.

Source: MSU Media Relations

12/28/04
STARKVILLE, Miss. - For his efforts in last week's wins over Florida A&M and Jacksonville State, Mississippi State All-America senior forward Lawrence Roberts has been named the SEC Player of the Week. The announcement was made Monday by the league office headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.

For the week, Roberts averaged 23.5 points, 14.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 assists in his two outings, along with shooting 70 percent (16-of-23 FGs) from the field and 88 percent (14-of-16 FTs) from the line. The reigning SEC Player of the Year began the week with 25 points (7-11 FGs & 11-11 FTs) and nine rebounds in State's 104-80 home win over Florida A&M on Monday. Two days later in Jackson, Roberts totaled 22 points (9-12 FGs), 20 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and three steals in just 24 minutes of action during MSU's 95-53 triumph over Jacksonville State. In posting his 43rd career double-double and fifth of the season just 13 minutes into the JSU game (15 points and 15 rebounds by halftime), Roberts became the first Bulldog player since Rickey Brown (1979-80) to score 20 or more points and collect 20+ rebounds in the same contest.

On the season, the 6-9, 240-pound Roberts enters the new week continuing to pace the SEC in rebounding (10.9 rpg) and has now moved into a fourth-place tie (with Alabama's Kennedy Winston) among the league's scoring leaders at 17.8 points per contest after putting together a current string of three consecutive 20-point efforts. The Houston native also ranks eighth in the SEC in steals (2.1 spg) after being credited with three steals apiece during each of his last three outings.

In helping power coach Rick Stansbury's nationally ranked Bulldogs to an 11-2 overall record and current five-game winning streak, Roberts has averaged 21.6 points and 11.4 rebounds, along with shooting 60 percent (36-of-60 FGs) from the field, over those past five games since being able to play without his protective face mask. Roberts had his nose broken in practice back on Nov. 4 and underwent subsequent successful surgery to realign the nose. He wore the mask for the year's first six games and has been playing without the mask since MSU's Dec. 11 home contest against Arkansas-Little Rock.

This week's honor marks Roberts' third SEC Player of the Week award of his MSU career, tying him with former State standouts Erick Dampier, Darryl Wilson and Mario Austin as three-time recipients of the league's weekly honor.

Source: MSU Media Relations

STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs (8-2) are hitting the road after enjoying a six-game home stance and tallying a seven-game winning streak to play the East Tennessee State Bucs (4-5) on Thursday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. ET.

Senior guard Tan White leads the Lady Bulldogs with 21.2 points per game, eighth in the nation, and 6.4 rebounds per game. Before the break, State won the MSU Classic by defeating both San Jose State (66-60) and UL-Monroe (81-50). White was named the MVP as well as senior forward Rebecca Kates and junior guard Doceide Warren earning spots on the all-Tournament team for their performances.

ETSU is 4-5 going into its Dec. 28th home contest vs. Georgia Southern. The Bucs are led by senior forward Tiffani Mayes who is averaging 20.1 ppg and 8.1 rpg. They are even at home this year going 2-2 on the season. Head coach Karen Kemp returned seven letterwinners including three starters to her 2004-05 squad in her 11th season with ETSU.

The Bucs mark the fourth opponent this season that State has faced for the first time. MSU has tallied a 6-2 overall record vs. the Southern Conference.

Source: MSU Media Relations

12/21/04
STARKVILLE, Miss. - In advance of Wednesday's Mississippi State-Jacksonville State men's basketball game in Jackson, coach Rick Stansbury's 20th-ranked Bulldogs will be available for an autograph-signing session Tuesday evening beginning at 6 p.m. at Jackson's Mississippi Coliseum. Prior to the autograph signing, the MSU team is slated to participate in a 5:30 p.m. practice session at the Mississippi Coliseum that will also be open to the public.

Tickets for Wednesday's 7 p.m. contest between Mississippi State and Jacksonville State may be purchased at the Mississippi Coliseum Ticket Office, at all Ticketmaster locations, and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Wednesday's game will mark the Bulldogs' third basketball appearance in Jackson during the Stansbury era, with MSU having previously knocked off Georgia State, 78-54, two years ago (Dec. 18, 2002) as well as claiming a 105-53 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Stansbury's State head coaching debut during the 1998-99 season.

Mississippi State owns an all-time record of 8-5 in games played at Jackson's Mississippi Coliseum since the 6,812-seat facility opened in time for the 1962-63 basketball season. Other recent basketball trips to the state's capital city resulted in MSU wins over McNeese State (76-66 on Dec. 16, 1987) and Jackson State (77-62 on Nov. 30, 1985).

This week's contest in Jackson will mark Mississippi State's seventh non-Starkville 'home' game played in the state of Mississippi during the Stansbury era. The 1999-2000 campaign (Stansbury's second season at the MSU helm) hails as the only season during his seven-year State head coaching stint that the Bulldogs have not played an in-state 'home' game away from campus. With a 6-0 record in these games, MSU prevailed most recently in Tupelo last season as well as during the 1998-99 campaign, while also having posted back-to-back victories in Southaven during the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons.

Source: MSU Media Relations

12/20/04
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The 20th-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs (9-2) close out their non-conference home schedule Monday night by playing host to the Florida A&M Rattlers (2-5) in the nightcap of a basketball tripleheader at MSU's Humphrey Coliseum, which will begin with the consolation and championship games of the Lady Bulldog-hosted Mississippi State Classic at 2 and 5 p.m., respectively. The MSU-FAMU men's tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. following the women's doubleheader, and special $10 general admission tickets are available for admittance into all three games of Monday's basketball tripleheader at 'The Hump.'

In the midst of playing three games in five days, the Bulldogs continue their busy pre-Christmas stretch of basketball action by taking on the Jacksonville State Gamecocks this Wednesday evening (7 p.m.) at Jackson's Mississippi Coliseum. Tickets for Wednesday's MSU-JSU contest may be purchased at the Mississippi Coliseum Ticket Office, at all Ticketmaster locations, and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

This Tuesday in Jackson, Bulldog basketball fans will also have an opportunity to attend MSU's open shoot-around beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Mississippi Coliseum. An autograph session is slated to follow the public shoot-around beginning at 6 p.m.

Coach Rick Stansbury's Bulldogs return home sporting a 9-2 overall record after extending their NCAA-leading overall road winning streak to 14 consecutive games with Saturday night's 80-74 victory over the Xavier Musketeers in Cincinnati. Last Monday, State also prevailed on the road by claiming a 74-59 triumph at the University of New Orleans. The Bulldogs' current 14-game road winning streak dates back to last year's perfect 12-0 road campaign, which included an 8-0 SEC road ledger. MSU's lone setbacks on the current campaign have come against nationally ranked foes Syracuse and Arizona in the prestigious Coaches vs. Cancer Classic and John R. Wooden Classic events, respectively.

Statistically as a team, Mississippi State enters the new week of action continuing to lead the SEC in rebounding (41.9 rpg), while ranking second in the league in field-goal percentage defense (37.1%), and third in rebounding margin (+6.2 rpg), three-point field goal percentage defense (28.0%) and scoring defense (60.1 ppg). Offensively, the Bulldogs are coming off Saturday's winning road performance at Xavier in which they set new single-game, season-best marks for overall field-goal percentage (54.0%; 27-of-50 FGs), three-point percentage (66.7%; 8-of-12 treys) and free-throw percentage (75.0%; 18-of-24 FTs).

Individually, State is paced by the inside-outside tandem of seniors Lawrence Roberts and Winsome Frazier, who most recently shared game scoring honors Saturday night at Xavier with 20 points apiece. Roberts, the reigning SEC Player of the Year, enters the week leading the conference in rebounding (10.1 rpg) and ranked seventh in scoring (16.6 ppg). Frazier, last year's SEC steals champion, is averaging 13.9 points per contest on the year to rank 17th in the SEC. Along with his 20 points (6-of-10 FGs; 4-of-4 treys & 4-of-4 FTs) at Xavier, he added a career-high five assists, a season-most four steals and four rebounds in 31 minutes of turnover-free action. Fellow senior Shane Power is averaging a steady 10.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists an outing, while sophomore point guard Gary Ervin is contributing 8.1 points and 4.8 assists per game (4th in the SEC) after scoring a career-high 15 points and handing out eight assists during Saturday's win at Xavier.

Out of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference by way of Tallahassee, Fla., the Rattlers of Florida A&M University are 2-5 on the season after most recently posting an 85-81 road win over Southern University in Baton Rouge last Monday. Prior to that, FAMU split a pair of conference decisions on the road by beating Norfolk State, 79-68, and falling to Hampton, 55-49, on Dec. 4 and 6, respectively. Guided by fifth-year head coach Mike Gillespie Sr., Florida A&M is winding down a season-opening, nine-game road swing, which has already taken the team to Michigan State, Illinois, Florida International and Florida. FAMU will next play at Oklahoma on Dec. 30, before playing its first home game of the season on Jan. 6 against Bethune-Cookman. Without three starters from last year's NCAA Tournament team, which gave Kentucky a stern postseason test before falling, the Rattlers are paced by junior guard Tony Tate, who leads the team in scoring (17.0 ppg), assists (4.1 apg) and steals (2.0 spg).

Source: MSU Media Relations

12/16/04
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs (5-2) host their fourth straight home game against the Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions (3-2) on Thursday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. MSU is looking to defend its four-game winning streak coming into the contest.

State won its fourth straight game on Tuesday night against Troy, 62-43. Senior guard Tan White tallied double digits for the Lady Bulldogs in the win with 18 points. She is leading the SEC with 22.0 points per game. With her four steals vs. Troy, White moved into the SEC Top 10 Career Steals list with 312. She replaced Tamika Catchings of Tennessee (1998-01) who had previously posted 311. White has now scored in double digits in 18 consecutive games spanning from the end of 2003-04 season.

The last four wins have showed a more balanced team effort from the Lady Bulldogs. Statistically speaking, those last four wins combined for a 23.5 point scoring margin over MSU opponents. State is averaging 71.2 ppg while holding opponents to 47.8 ppg. MSU leads the SEC in all games in scoring defense of 49.7 ppg. The Lady Bulldogs are shooting 44 percent from the floor, 33 percent from three-point land and 71 percent from the free throw line in the last four outings.

Even though leading scorer White is averaging less points over the last four games (19.5 ppg) she has received more help from her teammates. Senior guard Tiania Burns is putting up 12.0 ppg, senior forward Rebecca Kates with 9.0 ppg, junior guard/forward Blessing Chekwa with 8.5 ppg and junior forward Mamie McKinney with 7.8 ppg. Senior guard Ebonie Ferguson just tallied eight points and a career-high six rebounds in the Troy win.

Southeastern Louisiana (3-2) is winless on the road this year, picking up its two losses at Nebraska, 82-35, and at South Florida, 81-42. The Lady Lions are led by senior guard Dacia McGowan with 14.4 ppg and senior forward Nakeya Downing is averaging a double-double with 11.0 ppg and 10.6 rpg.

SLU is leading the series 3-2 but MSU is 2-1 in Starkville and took the last meeting at home, 80-45, in 1995. This marks the first of two Southland opponents that the Lady Bulldogs will face this year. The other being Louisiana-Monroe in possibly the second day of MSU Classic action Dec. 20. State is 12-7 against the Southland Conference.

NOTES
-Head coach Sharon Fanning is 54-5 in non-conference games at home.
-This game will mark Rebecca Kates¹ and Tan White¹s 100th career game with the Maroon and White.

Source: MSU Media Relations

12/15/04 - This Saturday, while the MSU basketball Bulldogs are on the road against Xavier in Cincinnati, MSU fans can catch 4 former MSU Bulldogs extending their careers in a game with ABA playoff implications in Greenwood, Mississippi. The first-place Mississippi Stingers (8-1) feature Brandon Vincent, Horatio Webster, and Detrick White, all former MSU Bulldogs. They are playing the second-place Nashville Rhythm (8-2), led by Dontae Jones from the MSU 1996 Final Four team (leading the ABA East in scoring with over 30 ppg). Ticket prices? Only $7.00! For more information, call Travis Gordon at (601)664-1879 or email jadvocat@aol.com.

12/15/04
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Mississippi State women's basketball team continued its six-game home stretch on Tuesday evening, defeating the Troy Trojans, 62-43, at Humphrey Coliseum. For MSU senior guard Tan White, it was a history-making performance as her four steals propelled her past former Tennessee Lady Vol Tamika Catchings into the No. 10 spot on the Southeastern Conference's Top 10 Career Steals list. In 99 career games, White has accumulated 312 steals.

"We played really well defensively and in transition in the first half, but we did not continue to attack the rim," said Lady Bulldog head coach Sharon Fanning. "It's easy to lose focus when you get a quick lead, but that's something we're going to have to continue to improve on. If we are going to be a good team down the stretch and continue to improve, we are going to have to play a lot harder for an extended period of time."

State opened the game on a 6-0 run before Troy posted its first basket of the evening. The Lady Bulldogs extended the lead to 21-8 with just 11:16 remaining in the half. However, the Trojans mounted a comeback as MSU stayed scoreless for almost five minutes in the latter part of the half. After Ebonie Ferguson's free throw with 10:43 on the clock, State's next basket came on a Blessing Chekwa jumper at 7:53. After Chekwa's shot, State didn't score again until 3:57 remaining in the half. Despite the charge, MSU held off Troy to take an 11-point, 33-22, advantage into the locker room at the intermission.

The Lady Bulldogs opened the second half strong, jumping out by 19 with 15:15 left to play. State continued to build on that, adding six more points to run ahead by 23 with 7:50 remaining in the game. Troy fought to come back and cut into the MSU lead; however, the Lady Bulldogs were too much as they took the 19-point win, 62-43.

"I think that we are starting to see each other better," Fanning added. "We still need to continue to spread out and open some things up, so that we can get some better angles on some screens. That will enable us to get some more layups and easy jump shots. We saw some of the better balance that we talked about tonight, and that is going to help us win some games down the stretch."

White, MSU's lone double-digit scorer, netted seven points in the first four minutes of the game. She finished the night with 18 overall.

The Trojans were led by Amy Lewis' 10 points. Troy was held to 27.1 percent shooting from the floor.

MSU returns to action on Thursday evening when the Lady Bulldogs host Southeastern Louisiana at 7 p.m. in Humphrey Coliseum.

GAME NOTES
-With her four steals tonight, senior guard Tan White surpassed former Tennessee Lady Vol Tamika Catchings to enter the SEC's Top 10 Career Steals list. White has 312 steals in 99 games. White has scored in double digits in 18 consecutive games spanning from the end of the 2003-04 season.
-MSU is now 9-0 when hosting Troy in Starkville.
-State is 17-4 against teams from the Atlantic Sun conference.
-Head coach Sharon Fanning is now 54-5 in non-conference games at home.

Source: MSU Media Relations

12/13/04
STARKVILLE, Miss. - In the middle of a six-game home stretch, the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs (4-2) host the Troy Lady Trojans (2-3) on Tuesday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. CT. MSU is riding a three-game winning streak with the help of SEC Player of the Week, Tan White.

The Lady Bulldogs have enjoyed recent wins over South Alabama (71-50), ranked Louisiana Tech (72-55) and Loyola-Chicago (80-43). It has been a team effort with three or more players scoring in double digits in the victories. White is leading the charge averaging 22.7 points per game, leading the SEC and fourth best in the nation. White has scored in double digits in 17 consecutive games spanning from the end of 2003-04 season. Leading the league in steals as well with 3.67 spg, she is three steals shy (308) of breaking into the SEC Top 10 in career steals (311).

Added production comes from senior guard Tiania Burns who is also averaging 11.8 ppg and 6.8 rpg. She has totaled 39 points in the last three wins. Junior guard/forward Blessing Chekwa has added a boost as the first player off of the bench. She recorded her second career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds in the win over South Alabama.

Troy has had a tough time on the road this season, picking up all three losses at other arenas. The Trojans fell at Austin Peay, 64-79, at U.S. Naval Academy, 66-80 and at Georgia State, 60-62. Freshman guard Amy Lewis is leading the team averaging 15.0 ppg, followed by junior forward Alecia Jones with 11.8 ppg and 7.2 rpg and then sophomore guard/forward Audrey Muse with 11.2 ppg.

State is 8-2 vs. the Trojans and 8-0 when hosting Troy in Starkville. The last meeting was in 1997 when the Lady Bulldogs defeated Troy, 80-57, at home. Head coach Sharon Fanning is 1-1 vs. the Trojans while at the helm. MSU is 16-4 versus the Atlantic Sun.

Source: MSU Media Relations

12/08/04
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Mississippi State's senior guard Tan White was named SEC Player of the Week for the second time in her career after her performances this past week versus Louisiana Tech and South Alabama, the conference office announced today.

She posted 28 points vs. Louisiana Tech and 19 versus South Alabama to lead the SEC in scoring averaging 22.7 points per game. White has posted four 20+-point games this season and has scored in double digits in 17 consecutive games spanning from the end of the 2003-04 season. She has now scored in double digits in 92 games in her career.

With her 28 points vs. Louisiana Tech, she led the Lady Bulldogs to their first win over a ranked team this season and first time since Feb. 12, 2004 vs. #20 Florida (88-76) that State has defeated a ranked team at home.

White went 16-for-19 from the free throw line for the week, tallying a .842 free throw percentage. Her 14 attempts vs. the Lady Techsters tied a career-high. She also totaled 13 rebounds, 11 assists and seven steals in the two games.

White was previously named SEC Player of the Week during her freshman campaign on Dec. 26, 2002.

Source: MSU Media Relations

12/06/04
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs continued their six-game home stretch at Humphrey Coliseum on Sunday afternoon, defeating South Alabama Jaguars, 71-50, marking their third straight win. Thanks to a team effort, MSU was four points shy of having six players score in double figures. Junior Blessing Chekwa's 11 points along with her 11 rebounds netted the second double-double of her Maroon and White career.

"It's important to have so many players in double digits like we had," said MSU head coach Sharon Fanning. "South Alabama did a great job of continuing motion. They can break you down a lot. We created assists and turnovers though. I am pleased with the outcome."

State jumped out to a 2-0 lead before South Alabama scored its first three-point s to take their only lead of the game at the 18:53 mark of the first half. MSU quickly extended its lead to six with 13:03 remaining on the clock. However, State spent almost 13 minutes of the half fending off USA. With 10:35 to play, South Alabama cut the MSU lead to one before a Rebecca Kates' trey put MSU up 21-14 with just under 10 minutes remaining. State then went on a 9-0 run to go ahead by 14 with 4:22 left in the half. The Lady Bulldogs added to that lead, scoring their last first half field goal at 3:12, and taking an 18-point advantage into the locker room at 41-23.

State continued its dominance during the second half. MSU went up by 24 with 12:38 remaining in the game. Despite USA's attempt to cut into that lead, the Lady Bulldogs held their own, eventually going up by as much as 27 with just 2:20 left to play. South Alabama scored the game's final six points to cut the margin to just 21; however, State was too much for USA taking the 71-50 win.

In addition to Chekwa's performance, seniors Tiania Burns and Tan White, along with junior Doceide Warren led the charge, each tallying double-digit points in the win. White led all scorers with 19 points, while Burns added 15, and Warren contributed 10. This marked the 16th consecutive game that White has tallied double digits.

JoAnna Williams' 18 points led South Alabama.

After taking off a week for exams, the Lady Bulldogs will return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 14 when they host Troy University at 7 p.m. in Humphrey Coliseum.

GAME NOTES