Ole Miss at MSU: Official Game Thread

I’m sitting next to fellow Journalite Parrish Alford, who’s also blogging on the game, FYI. Just minutes from tipoff, and I’m interested to see how these teams respond to what occurred the past week. Ole Miss, of course, upset Kentucky on Tuesday. Letdown time? MSU hasn’t played since beating Georgia a week ago, so the Bulldogs will be either rusty or refreshed.

Anyway, here is the pregame capsule.

TV: Raycom. Live Internet streaming at ESPN360.com.
XM: Channel 199.
Series: MSU leads 133-104.
Last year: MSU, 88-68 in Starkville; Ole Miss, 74-63 in Oxford.
Coaches: Ole Miss – Andy Kennedy (77-46, fourth year; 56-44, third year at Ole Miss). MSU – Rick Stansbury (222-121, 11th year).
Notes: The Rebels’ last win in Starkville was Feb. 21, 1998. Keith Carter, now a radio analyst with the Ole Miss network, had 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead an 82-78 victory. … Rebel freshman Terrico White is averaging 14.7 points in SEC games, second on the team and 11th in the league. … David Huertas is averaging 19.6 points. If he maintains that pace he finish as the highest-scoring Ole Miss player since Joe Harvell’s 25.0 points per game in 1992. … MSU freshman Dee Bost is third in the SEC with 4.5 assists per game. … Junior center Jarvis Varnado continues to lead the nation with 4.9 blocks per game.

Probable Starters
Ole Miss (11-9, 2-4 SEC)
C – Malcolm White    6-9    So.    6.4 ppg
G – David Huertas    6-5    So.    19.6 ppg
G – Terrico White    6-5    Fr.    9.9 ppg
G – Zach Graham    6-6    So.    7.4 ppg
F – DeAundre Cranston    6-9    Jr.    3.1 ppg
Top Reserves: G Will Bogan, F Terrance Henry, F Murphy Holloway.

Mississippi State (14-6, 4-1 SEC)
C – Jarvis Varnado     6-9    Jr.    13.0 ppg
G – Ravern Johnson    6-7    So.    12.5 ppg
G – Dee Bost    6-2    Fr.    9.7 ppg
G – Barry Stewart    6-2    Jr.    10.6 ppg
G – Phil Turner    6-3    So.    7.7 ppg
Top Reserves: F Romero Osby, F Elgin Bailey, G Riley Benock