Swamigp’s Weblog

Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose each sored 17 points to lead #1 seeded Memphis past a tough Mississippi State team, 77-74. Mississippi State’s Jamont Gordon missed a three pointer at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime as Memphis outlasted a furious rally by the Bulldogs. Mississippi State hung tough with Memphis throughout and played with a great strategy in the final 3 minutes of the game to make the final score as close as it was. With Memphis’s documented poor free throw shooting on the year, the Bulldogs fouled the Tigers horrid free throw shooters, but they made enough to salvage the win. Memphis was a 59% free throw shooting team on the season, and shot even worse in today’s game, going 15-32, but pulled out the win.

Mississippi State was led back in the final minutes by Jamont Gordon and Charles Rhodes, each of whom posted double doubles for the game, Gordon scored 21 points and had 11 rebounds, and Rhodes chipping in 14 points and 10 rebounds. Down 73-67 with 28 seconds to go on a layup by Rhodes, Mississippi state fouled to stop the clock. Shawn Taggart made both free throws to put Memphis up eight, but Gordon came back with a three to cut the lead to 5. Gordon then fouled Memphis guard Antonio Anderson, who missed both free throws, leading to a dunk by Rhodes. Mississippi State went down by four on a free throw by Derrick Rose but Gordon made a layup to dwindle the lead to two, 76-74, with 9 seconds left. Chris Douglas Roberts made one of two from the line to give Gordon and the Bulldogs a chance to tie the game. But Gordon couldn’t lead his team all the way back, missing an off balanced three that hit the back of the rim, to send the Memphis Tigers into celebration and Mississippi State home.

Ben Hansbrough led the Bulldogs in scoring behind Gordon, scoring 19 points including 3 threes to help give the underdogs a chance. Jarvis Varnado continued his dominance inside, especially in a first half in which he collected 4 blocks. His lone block in the second half put him in the history books, recording his 224th in his career to pass Shaquille O’ Neal for first all-time in SEC Conference history.

Despite Chris Douglas Roberts and Derrick Rose’s offensive input, Joey Dorsey was the catalyst for the team. To go with 13 points and 12 rebounds, Dorsey had a career high 6 blocks, to counter Jarvis Varnado’s production.