No. 4 MSU Aims For Program’s Best Start Monday Against Ole Miss

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Fourth-ranked Mississippi State aims for the best start in school history Monday evening as the Bulldogs host in-state rival Ole Miss in a 6 p.m. contest at Humphrey Coliseum.

Humphrey Coliseum doors open at 4:30 p.m. for Monday's "We Back Pat" contest. Tickets for the game cost $5 for adults, and students 18 and under get in free. Mississippi State students also get in free with a valid student ID.

Fans can purchase tickets in advance at www.hailstate.com/tickets.

The first of two games this season against the Rebels will be broadcast nationally on the SEC Network. Fans can also listen in the Golden Triangle area on WKBB-FM 100.9 and in the Corinth, Tupelo and Oxford areas on WCNA-FM 95.9. Live audio streams will also be available on www.hailstate.com/plus and the TuneIn app.

MSU students can enjoy video games, free popcorn, drinks and more in the student lounge. It will be open from 3:30-5:45 and again at halftime.

Families can enjoy games, inflatables and more at Bully's Kidz Kourt, which will be open from 4:30-5:45 p.m. in Mize Pavilion. At halftime, fans can enjoy Peter Rabbit The Bucket Drummer, who was one of the original members of the Tony Award-winning hit "Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk" and is now one of the most-requested acts in the NBA and NCAA.

State has the opportunity to claim the best start in program history after moving to 18-0 overall and 4-0 in SEC play with an 82-49 win against Florida Thursday night in Starkville. The four-straight wins to begin conference action is also a first for the Bulldogs.

Sophomore Teaira McCowan paced the Bulldogs with a career-best 25 points on 12 of 13 shooting. Her 92.3-percent conversion rate from the field stands as the best in program history and third in the nation this season.

Victoria Vivians notched her fifth 20-point game in the last six contests with 21 against the Gators. Vivians, who was tabbed to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 last week, is third in the SEC in scoring in league games with 19.5 ppg. She is fifth for the season with 16.9 ppg.

PROMOTIONS

"We Back Pat" Game
Tickets $5 for adults. Free admission youth age 18 and under and MSU students
Bully's Kidz Kourt – 4:30-5:45 p.m. in Mize Pavilion
MSU Student Lounge – Open 3:30-5:45 p.m. and halftime outside the student gate
Halftime Entertainment by Peter Rabbit The Bucket Drummer
Trustmark Hail State Rewards – Jackpot up to $600

SERIES VS. OLE MISS

Monday's game is the 92nd meeting in the series and the first of two this season. The Rebels lead 63-28, including a 24-16 edge in Starkville.
The Bulldogs, however, have won the last five meetings and 13 of the last 16.
State has won the last nine times the teams have met in the Hump.

QUOTABLES

"It is a game that means a lot to a lot of people. We are excited about the opportunity to play at home. We are expecting a great crowd. I don't think it would matter who we're playing Monday night. They have a chance to go out and win an SEC game, play at home and for a chance to set a record. That in itself will be huge. The fact that is Ole Miss It will add a little to the atmosphere in the Hump. I want our kids to enjoy it. That's what college athletics is all about. I think that is the beautiful thing we have going here at Mississippi State. The college experience is really special. Playing in front of our fans is really special. It isn't like that in most places. What we've been able to build here is very unique and special. I want our kids to enjoy that. I certainly think the fans will be a little bit louder for this game. It is important to win in the SEC, and it is extremely important to win at home." — MSU Head Coach Vic Schaefer

ABOUT THE REBELS

Ole Miss heads to Starkville 13-4 overall and 2-2 in SEC play. The Rebels knocked off Tennessee 67-62 in Oxford on Thursday after dropping consecutive road games at Alabama and Auburn.
Ole Miss is 12-0 at home and 0-4 on the road this season. The Rebels shoot 42.5% from the field as a team, including 33.2% from the 3-point arc. The Rebels hit 68.4% from the free-throw line.
Ole Miss averages 73.2 ppg for the season and 70.0 in league play. Madinah Muhammad paces the Rebels with 13.7 ppg for the year and 12.8 ppg in SEC games. Shandricka Sessom follows with 12.5 ppg for the year and 11.5 in SEC play.
Shequila Joseph's 6.0 rpg this season paces Ole Miss. She is grabbing 8.0 rpg in conference action.

NEXT UP FOR THE DAWGS

The Bulldogs return to the road for back-to-back games and three of the next four.
State heads to Alabama on Thursday before venturing to Columbia for a Top 5 Big Monday showdown at South Carolina.

BULLDOG BITES

Mississippi State seeks to win its 19th-straight game to open the year. That would be the best start in school history.
The Bulldogs matched the 2014-15 team for the best start in program history (18-0) with an 82-49 home win against Florida on Thursday.
State's 18 wins are the most in the nation. The Dawgs and UConn are the only two undefeated teams in the nation.
State has started SEC play 4-0 for the first time in program history. It is now 26-10 in the SEC going back to 2014-15. That total is second-most in the SEC in that span.
State is 46-8 overall going back to 2015-16, one back of South Carolina for most in the league.
The Bulldogs are now 36-32 in league contests under Vic Schaefer. State has won seven-straight and 11 of its last 13 regular-season SEC games. State's seven-game league win streak is the best in school history.
MSU is 38-3 (.927) in Humphrey Coliseum since the 2014-15 campaign and 54-8 (.871) going back to 2013-14. State has won eight-straight at the Hump going back to last season.
State held Florida to 49 points, its fewest since it scored 49 vs. Auburn on March 4, 2015. MSU leads the SEC and was sixth nationally after Thursday in scoring defense, holding foes to 53.1 ppg. The Dawgs are also tops in league games, holding teams to 53.0 ppg.
The Bulldogs' 82 points was its most in an SEC game since it scored 90 in a double-overtime setback at Kentucky on Feb. 12, 2015. MSU is second in the SEC, 17th in the NCAA Division I ranks averaging 79.8 ppg
MSU forced 27 turnovers, its most in an SEC game since last season's win at Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs force 22.0 tpg, third in the SEC and 14th nationally. State's +8.5 turnover margin is second in the league and fifth in the country.
Sophomore Teaira McCowan scored a career-best 25 points on 12 of 13 shooting. She made 12-straight and shot 92.3% for the contest, the best single-game percentage in school history and tied for third in the nation in a game this season.
Victoria Vivians had 21 points Thursday, her second-straight 20-point game and fifth in the last six games. She is third in league scoring with 19.5 ppg and fifth for the year with 16.9 ppg.

Vivians was named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 last week.

No. 4 MSU Aims For Program’s Best Start Monday Against Ole Miss

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Teaira McCowan

Victoria Vivians

Mississippi State University Athletics

No. 4 MSU Aims For Program’s Best Start Monday Against Ole Miss

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Teaira McCowan

Victoria Vivians

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