Mississippi State basketball picked up one of its most important wins of the season on Saturday. The #22 Bulldogs went to Oxford for a rematch with #19 Ole Miss, and despite having won the earlier matchup in Starkville, there wasn't much confidence in State having a successful trip up north considering how the teams had played recently.
But that's why you should expect the unexpected in this rivalry, as State would dominate the Rebels in an 81-71 victory that truly wasn't that close.
MSU got off to a slow start, but they'd find a groove in the final 10 minutes of the first half to take and ultimately never relinquish control. In the middle 20 minutes of the game, State would outscore Ole Miss 49-26, coming back from down seven to ahead 16 within that stretch. They'd eventually push that lead out to as much as 19 and never allow the Rebels to get within single-digits again.
The Bulldogs are now 18-7 on the year with a 6-6 SEC record.
A more balanced offensive effort was key for the Bulldogs getting a win in Oxford
Much of State's scoring this season has come from Josh Hubbard and KeShawn Murphy. Those two have been fairly consistent in putting up points, even if the efficiency isn't there. But beyond them, the pieces MSU added in the offseason to generate more offense haven't delivered much in SEC play.
Against Ole Miss, the Bulldogs got a more balanced offensive night. Five Bulldogs were in double-figures, led by RJ Melendez with 17. Riley Kugel and Claudell Harris both made shots for State, which hasn't frequently been the case in recent weeks. When this team gets a balanced output, they look the part.
Mississippi State's physicality was once again the difference against Ole Miss
In the first matchup, MSU's dominance on the glass, especially on the offensive end, is what ultimately led thme to victory in Starkville. That physicality again played a key role in the Bulldog's beating the Rebels.
State was +12 rebounding with a 16-12 advantage in second-chance points, a margin Ole Miss closed late. The Bulldogs posted 38 points in the paint, and defensively they held Rebel big man Malik Dia in check. This MSU team matches up well with Ole Miss, and it's why they got the season sweep.
Mississippi State basketball finally wasn't burned by the three point shot
There's a caveat to this State team matching up well with Ole Miss because while MSU has the physical edge, the Rebels ability to score from the perimeter is problematic for this Bulldog defense. But on Saturday, State kept Ole Miss in check from distance.
The Rebels shot just 6-24 from distance, going 2-13 in the second half. None of the Rebels' usual suspects managed to get hot from beyond the arc, which has seemingly been the case in so many of these matchups over the years. Perhaps it was simply an off-shooting night for Ole Miss as opposed to good defense, but either way, it helped State get it done in Oxford.