The University of Mississippi Athletics
Men's Hoops Falls to Mississippi State
6/21/1999 | Men's Basketball
February 20, 1999
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) - Tyrone Washington scored 18 of his 21 points after halftime as Mississippi State overcame an 11-point deficit to beat Mississippi 72-69 Saturday in a game that had more than instate bragging rights at stake.
Mississippi State (18-9, 8-6 Southeastern Conference) ended the game with a 20-6 run. Ole Miss (17-10, 7-7) made just one basket in the final 6:42 and lost its third straight game.
Washington made a strong inside move with 6:20 left, and followed with two free throws 18 seconds later to pull the Bulldogs within 63-56. Those four points started a 15-1 run that put State ahead to stay.
Detrick White, who had only four of his 21 points after halftime, converted a three-point play with 3:10 left to break a 64-all tie.
With just two regular season games left, State is still tied with Arkansas for second place in the SEC West and a bye in the first-round in the league tournament. The Razorbacks beat No. 6 Kentucky 74-70 on Saturday.
Both State, which has a winning season for the first time since advancing to the Final Four in 1996, and Ole Miss, which has been to two straight NCAA tournaments, are on the NCAA bubble.
It was the second game in a row that Ole Miss blew an 11-point lead in the second half. The Rebels lost 69-67 at home to Tennessee on Wednesday.
Ole Miss, which had won five straight against its instate rival, had a chance to tie the game with about 10 seconds left, but Michael White's 3-pointer was blocked by Michael Gholar. Todd Myles, fouled in the battle for the rebound, hit a free throw to put State ahead 72-68 with 8.7 seconds left.
Keith Carter was then fouled on a 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds left, but missed the second free throw. He tried purposely to miss the third one, but it never hit the rim and the ball went to State.
Gholar was fouled on the inbound play, but missed both free throws. He was fighting for the rebound as time ran out.
By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer
