Bulldogs play in Capital City

Renardo Sidney, left, Dee Bost and the rest of the Bulldogs play in Jackson tonight. (Photo by Kim Murrell, SDN)

MICHAEL WARDLAW

Basketball fans in the Capital City get their chance to watch the Mississippi State Bulldogs tonight as they are set to take on the Demons of Northwestern State.
MSU coach Rick Stansbury has never dropped a decision in Mississippi Coliseum and with solid play from Arnett Moultrie, Dee Bost, and Rodney Hood that record should remain intact. Tip is set for 7 p.m. and there are still $5 tickets available.
“It’s always special going to Jackson,” said Stansbury who is 8-0 in games played in Jackson. “We’ve had a lot of success there, and it gives our fans from that area a chance to see us play.”
The Bulldogs lead the series 5-1, but the Demons claimed a 76-75 overtime victory when the two last played on Nov. 26, 2005, in Starkville.
MSU, ranked 18th, is riding a 10-game winning streak, its longest such streak since 2003-04 season when they won 13 in a row.
“We’ve just got to continue what we are doing and not look past anyone,” senior All-SEC guard Dee Bost said, who needs just 11 assists to break the school record of 514 set by Derrick Zimmerman from 1999-2003.
"We can’t take anyone for granted right now," Moultrie said. "We just have to continue to take this one game at a time and handle our business.”
State is averaging 81.7 points on 51.0 percent shooting while winning seven in a row at home.
Last time out the Bulldogs survived their first true road test of the season with an 80-75 over Detroit last Saturday. In that game, Moultrie picked up his sixth double-double of the season as he collected 13 rebounds to accompany 17 points. Bryan Bryant also returned from his three-game suspension to add 17 points, pushing State to their 11th win of the season.
The Demons enter the game carrying a 7-5 record following their 89-79 win over Central Methodist on Monday. Shamir Davis leads NSU with a 13.2 scoring averaging.
After Thursday, the Bulldogs are off for the Christmas break before returning to action on Dec. 28 against Baylor in Dallas. Their next game at Humphrey Coliseum is set for Dec. 31 at 2 p.m. against Utah State.