Matthews free throws help Bulldogs hold off Utes in Landers Center meeting
Photo: Mississippi State’s Michael Nwoko (23) defends a driving Utah Ute during Sunday’s game at the Landers Center in Southaven. (Mary Scott/Oak River Media for desotocountynews.com)
Nov 17, 2024- College basketball invaded the Landers Center for the first time in several years this weekend and the response was pretty good…and the basketball wasn’t bad either.
One day after Ole Miss thumped Colorado State 84-69 on Saturday afternoon, Mississippi State of the SEC rallied in the second half to edge Utah of the Big 12 78-73 on Sunday afternoon.
Sunday’s game looked a bit bleak for the Bulldogs at halftime, as the Utes took control and led the contest 39-28. The Utes shot 45 percent from the floor in the first half while the Bulldogs could muster only 22.9 percent from the floor. Keyshawn Murphy led State with nine points at the break, while Ezra Ausar and Keanu Dawes each had nine points in the half for Utah.
State quickly came out of the locker room and started the rally with a 15-5 to open the second half. It was then that two Cameron Matthews free throws gave the Bulldogs the lead at 45-44 about four minutes into the final half of play.
Utah tied the game at 51-51 with 10 minutes left and it was knotted up at 60-60 with 6:49 remaining. But a RJ Melendez dunk would help the Bulldogs take a 67-64 lead with 5:23 remaining. Matthews free throws would seal the win in the final 1:13 of the game.
Mississippi State’s victory was thanks in large part to Josh Hubbard, the sophomore from Madison. Hubbard scored 20 points in the second half on 7-of-9 shooting in the half and 4-of-5 from the three-point line.
Matthews, the graduate student from Olive Branch returning to play in DeSoto County for the first time since leading the Conquistadors to two state championship appearances and one state title, finished with just 12 points and four rebounds for the game, but hit five consecutive free throws in the final 1:13 to seal the win.
“It’s a good feeling being back close to home, seeing a lot of familiar faces, and I’m just glad we got it done here,” Matthews said after the game.
Bulldogs’ coach Chris Jans, in his third season at Starkville, said no one on the roster understands the system more than Matthews.
“He could literally play all five positions,” Jans said. “He’s got an unbelievable feel and understanding of basketball.”
Sunday’s game was one of three Mississippi State “home” games being played on a neutral floor away from Starkville. The contest, dubbed the Mid-South Showdown, is a production of the Winchester, Virginia-based Russ Potts Productions, Inc., involved in sports and entertainment events.
The Bulldogs also have two games scheduled under an event called Magnolia Madness, a Dec. 14 game at Tupelo against McNeese and then Dec. 17 against Central Michigan in Jackson.
“It’s important to me that we take the game to our fans,” Jans said. “I know we have fans that have to travel a distance and it’s just one game but it means a lot to me, and hopefully it means a lot to them. I thought the crowd was awesome and I could feel them in the second half.”
BULLDOGS WIN THE BATTLE OF SOUTHAVEN
Sunday’s game mark offered a comparison of fan attraction to the Landers Center in games that allowed the DeSoto County faithful of the state schools to make a short commute against a longer drive. It appears the Bulldog faithful outdrew the Rebel fans by a significant margin.
Attendance to Sunday’s State-Utah contest drew 2,596 fans with almost all of them wearing Maroon and White. By contrast, Saturday’s Ole Miss-Colorado State game drew 1,526 to the Landers Center.
Both Jans and Ole Miss coach Chris Beard expressed appreciation of the fan following that came to the Southaven arena to cheer their teams.
Photos from Sunday’s game are thanks to Mary Scott of Oak River Media, shooting for DeSoto County News.
