January 23, 1999
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The turnovers came one after the other for MississippiState.
The Bulldogs controlled the opening tip Saturday against No. 7 Kentucky.After that, they controlled nothing.
Four steals. Three bad passes. Two traveling violations. A lane violation.An out-of-bounds call.
Before the game’s second television timeout, Kentucky led 15-0 and was onits way to a 76-49 win, the Wildcats’ third straight.
“We weren’t tough enough. That’s what bothers me,” Mississippi State coachRick Stansbury said. “Kentucky came out and got in our face, and we justdidn’t respond.”
Mississippi State (13-7, 3-4 Southeastern Conference) turned the ball over11 times and missed four shots before finally getting its first point on a freethrow by Robert Jackson with 12:16 remaining in the half.
Jackson turned the ball over once more before the Bulldogs scored theirfirst field goal, a tip-in by Tang Hamilton, with 8:41 to go, closing the gapto 18-3.
Trailing 37-14 at the half, Mississippi State had as many turnovers aspoints.
“This was very close, if not our best effort defensively,” coach TubbySmith said. “We played man-to-man the whole game, and we did an excellent jobof trapping, rotating out of traps and contesting shots.”
“We didn’t come out ready to play,” Mississippi State’s Detrick Whitesaid. “You can’t be flat against a team like Kentucky.”
Heshimu Evans led the Wildcats (17-4, 6-1) with 13 points and freshmanDesmond Allison had 11 in his first start, three days after he came off thebench to score 10 in Kentucky’s win over then-undefeated Auburn.
Allison played sparingly early in the season but has improved his shootingand strengthened his defense. That prompted Smith to insert him into Kentucky’sseventh different starting lineup this season.
“Desmond deserved the start,” Smith said. “He’s been showing a lot ofhustle, a lot of energy.”
“His aggressiveness from playing football allows him to take contact,”Smith added. “When going to the offensive glass, he’s not afraid. When he getshit, it doesn’t faze him. He’s fearless in that regard.”
“I think I pick up the intensity and play good defense,” Allison said. “Ican run the lanes and do things that coach wants everybody to do.”
The win gave the Wildcats sole possession of first place in the SEC’sEastern Division after Tennessee lost to Florida.
In their first game since the showdown with Auburn, the Wildcats showed noletdown, holding the Bulldogs to 19-of-61 shooting and forcing 20 turnovers forthe game. Kentucky had eight blocked shots (to none for the Bulldogs) and 11steals.
In the Auburn win, a switch from man-to-man to zone midway through the firsthalf helped the Wildcats shut down the Tigers. On Saturday, it was unnecessaryfor Smith to even contemplate such a move, so total was Kentucky’s defensivedomination.
“It wouldn’t have mattered if Kentucky played zone,” Stansbury said.”Their man-to-man was excellent today. … That was the best defensiveexecution I have seen.”
Hamilton led Mississippi State with 11 points. He and Jackson each had sevenrebounds. Scott Padgett led the Wildcats with seven rebounds.
Mississippi State’s 49 points were its fewest since a 78-45 loss toCalifornia on Dec. 9, 1996.
By TIM WHITMIRE
AP Sports Writer
