Jan 5, 2002
By RALPH D. RUSSO
AP Sports Writer
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Derrick Zimmerman jumped on top of the press table, took off his jersey and waved it over his head.
The high-flying junior guard was celebrating what he called the biggest victory of his Mississippi State career, and he was inviting the fans to join him and the rest of the Bulldogs on the floor.
“I just wanted to enjoy it with the crowd,” he said.
Mario Austin, who joined Zimmerman on the table, hit his first career 3-pointer with 7 seconds left in regulation, then made five free throws in overtime as Mississippi State upset No. 6 Kentucky 74-69 Saturday in the Southeastern Conference opener for both.
Austin scored a career-high 32 points and Zimmerman had 14 for the Bulldogs (14-1), who trailed by 16 points at halftime.
A few dozen fans made their way onto the Humphrey Coliseum hardwood. Some others waited behind press row to shake hands with Bulldogs coach Rick Stansbury as he made his way over to a television interview.
Who could blame them? The last time Mississippi State beat a top-10 opponent at home was nearly seven years ago against Arkansas.
Tayshaun Prince scored 18 to lead Kentucky (9-3), but had just four points in the second half when the Bulldogs went to a zone defense. He only took one shot in overtime.
“We started standing around a little bit, and that was why we weren’t getting good opportunities in the second half,” Prince said.
The Bulldogs trailed 65-62 with the shot clock winding down when the 6-foot-9 Austin, 0-for-2 from 3-point range in his career, sank a wide-open jumper from the top of the circle to tie it.
Even Austin admitted he was the last player Mississippi State wanted shooting a 3.
“It was luck,” the sophomore center said. “I didn’t have much time to think about it.”
Zimmerman said he held his breath when the big man let it fly.
“Mario Austin stepped up and made a big basketball play,” Stansbury said.
Kentucky’s Cliff Hawkins was stopped on a drive at the end of regulation.
Mississippi State made just one field goal in overtime, but hit 7-of-8 free throws and continued to play tight defense. Austin was 11-for-18 from the line overall, but was 5-for-6 in OT.
The last time the Bulldogs beat a team ranked this high was 1996, when they defeated No. 1 Kentucky in the SEC tournament championship game in New Orleans. Both schools went to the Final Four that year, with the Wildcats winning the NCAA title.
Mississippi State is off to its best start in 40 years, though the Bulldogs haven’t gotten much credit because of a less-than-formidable schedule.
“I’m sure that people now know that we’re a pretty good team,” Austin said. “It’s a statement to everyone.”
It looked like they were overmatched when Kentucky scored the first nine points of the game, jumped out to a 21-2 lead and held a 40-24 halftime advantage. The Bulldogs made just one of their first 15 shots, while the Wildcats were going 9-for-12.
But Zimmerman sparked the Bulldogs’ second-half comeback, scoring six points during a 13-0 run that cut the lead to 50-47 with 10 minutes left.
The 6-foot-2 Zimmerman finished the flurry with back-to-back one-handed jams that brought the fans to their feet.
“We didn’t respond well to the toughness and aggressiveness of our opponents,” Wildcats coach Tubby Smith said. “MSU’s aggressiveness took over the game in the second half.”
When Zimmerman wasn’t beating the Wildcats with his speed and jumping ability, Austin was having his way in the paint. He scored 25 points in the second half.
“Austin was the difference in the game,” Smith said. “We had no answer for him inside.”
