THE STORY: The Bulldogs look to return to form and sweep the Tigers for the fourth time in six years. Mississippi State had won six of its previous eight games, including a 76-71 victory in Baton Rouge on Jan. 25. But the Bulldogs blew a seven-point lead and lost at home to Georgia in overtime on Saturday, 70-68. Mississippi State is tied with Vanderbilt for third in the SEC, 4 ½ games behind top-ranked Kentucky. LSU has won two of its past three after losing five of six. The Tigers held off suspension-ravaged Alabama on Saturday, 67-58.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPNU
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (19-6, 6-4 SEC): Junior forward Arnett Moultrie leads the SEC in rebounding at 10.8, but pulled down just six boards against Georgia, his second-lowest total of the season. The Bulldogs were outrebounded 40-33 in the loss, gave up 11 3-pointers, and missed chances to win the game at the end of regulation and the end of overtime. Moultrie remains fourth in the SEC in scoring (16.8), and senior guard Dee Bost ranks fifth at 16.0. Bost led the Bulldogs with 21 points Saturday.
ABOUT LSU (14-10, 4-6 SEC): The Tigers are one of the better defensive teams in the conference, ranking fourth in average points allowed and fifth in defensive field-goal percentage. But the Tigers shoot just 40.8 percent from the field, next-to-last in the SEC. Justin Hamilton scored 21 points in the victory over Alabama, after averaging just 10.3 points in his previous four games. The Tigers are ninth in the SEC, but just two games behind Mississippi State.
TIP-INS:
1. Mississippi State’s next victory will give the Bulldogs the 17th 20-win season in franchise history, and the ninth in 14 seasons under head coach Rick Stansbury.
2. LSU leads the all-time series 104-97. Mississippi State aims to win three in a row in Baton Rouge for the first time since 1994-98.
3. The Tigers are 12-1 this season when holding the opposition under 60 points.
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TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPNU
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (19-6, 6-4 SEC): Junior forward Arnett Moultrie leads the SEC in rebounding at 10.8, but pulled down just six boards against Georgia, his second-lowest total of the season. The Bulldogs were outrebounded 40-33 in the loss, gave up 11 3-pointers, and missed chances to win the game at the end of regulation and the end of overtime. Moultrie remains fourth in the SEC in scoring (16.8), and senior guard Dee Bost ranks fifth at 16.0. Bost led the Bulldogs with 21 points Saturday.
ABOUT LSU (14-10, 4-6 SEC): The Tigers are one of the better defensive teams in the conference, ranking fourth in average points allowed and fifth in defensive field-goal percentage. But the Tigers shoot just 40.8 percent from the field, next-to-last in the SEC. Justin Hamilton scored 21 points in the victory over Alabama, after averaging just 10.3 points in his previous four games. The Tigers are ninth in the SEC, but just two games behind Mississippi State.
TIP-INS:
1. Mississippi State’s next victory will give the Bulldogs the 17th 20-win season in franchise history, and the ninth in 14 seasons under head coach Rick Stansbury.
2. LSU leads the all-time series 104-97. Mississippi State aims to win three in a row in Baton Rouge for the first time since 1994-98.
3. The Tigers are 12-1 this season when holding the opposition under 60 points.
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