Feb. 29, 2000
By RALPH D. RUSSO
Associated Press Writer
STARKVILLE, Miss (AP) –
Jamaal Magloire and Tayshaun Prince each scored 16points as No. 22 Kentucky defeated Mississippi State 73-61 Tuesday night.
Magloire also had nine rebounds in falling just short of his fourth straightdouble-double. The Kentucky center helped the Wildcats survive anotherpoor-shooting performance from 3-point range.
The Wildcats (21-8, 11-4 Southeastern Conference) missed their first 113-pointers and were just 2-for-17 in the first half from behind the arc.Kentucky is last in the SEC in 3-point shooting, making less than 29 percent.
The Wildcats finished 5-for-27 from 3-point range.
Antonio Jackson and Michael Gholar led Mississippi State (13-15, 4-11) with12 points each. Tang Hamilton had 11 for the Bulldogs.
The win kept Kentucky in contention for the SEC title, the top seed in theEastern Division and a bye in the first round of the SEC tournament. TheWildcats are a half game behind Florida in the SEC East and play host to theGators on Saturday.
Kentucky has won four straight against Mississippi State, five straight atStarkville, and nine of 11 overall against the Bulldogs.
Mississippi State has lost seven of its last eight overall.
After their miserable shooting first half, the Wildcats opened the second bygoing inside to Magliore.
Magloire scored eight of Kentucky’s first 13 second-half points as theWildcats opened a 47-35 lead with 14:52 to play.
Marvin Stone’s short jumper gave Kentucky it biggest lead of the game, 59-45with 7:35 left.
Desmond Allison had 12 points for Kentucky.
Neither team could find the range from behind the 3-point arc in the firsthalf, as the Wildcats and Bulldogs combined to miss the first 17 3-pointers ofthe game.