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GAME NOTES: State bragging rights are on the line this evening in Starkville, as the Mississippi State Bulldogs welcome the Ole Miss Rebels to Humphrey Coliseum for an SEC showdown.

This is the 241st meeting between these two rivals, with MSU holding a 135-105 series advantage. These two teams have split the season series the last four years. MSU though, is seeking the regular-season sweep after posting an 80-75 victory in Oxford on January 9th.

The Rebels come into this game with a 5-4 league ledger, having won four of their last six games. The team dropped back-to-back outings against Arkansas and Kentucky, but was able to bounce back with a 74-67 home win against Alabama last Saturday.

The Bulldogs are 4-4 in SEC action this season but come into this contest on a downward spiral, having dropped two straight games and four of their last five. MSU is returning home from a fruitless two-game road trip that saw the team drop close decisions at Vanderbilt (75-72) and Florida (69-62).

The Rebels are a formidable offensive foe, ranking among the SEC elite in terms of scoring at 80.3 ppg. Ole Miss boasts of three double-digit performers, led by Chris Warren's 16.8 ppg. Terrico White is a close second at nearly 15 points per game (14.8), followed by Eniel Polynice and his 10.6 ppg. Murphy Holloway and Zach Graham provide some scoring depth at 9.7 and 9.3 ppg, respectively. Warren scored 21 points to lead the Rebels to a come-from-behind win over Alabama last time out. Ole Miss faced a 23-point second-half deficit, but shot a scorching 60 percent from the floor after the break (15-of-20). Sophomore Terrence Henry finished with a career-high 20 points and eight rebounds. The Rebels took advantage at the free-throw line, where they outscored the Crimson Tide 25-13.

The Bulldogs managed to shoot just .383 from the floor against the Gators and were beaten up on the boards (46-35), including allowing Florida 15 offensive rebounds in the seven-point loss. The setback spoiled solid performances from Ravern Johnson and Jarvis Varnado, who combined for 36 points. Johnson led the charge with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Varnado recorded a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Barry Stewart also finished in double figures in the losing effort, tallying 12 points, all on three-pointers. The Bulldogs rely more on their defensive play to earn wins, as they are limiting the opposition to just 62.0 ppg on a mere .370 shooting. Four of the five starters are averaging double figures, led by Johnson's 14.0 ppg. Varnado is one of the top pivots in the country, averaging a double-double at 13.5 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, while also ranking second in the nation in blocked shots with 116 (5.0 per game). Stewart (11.3 ppg) and Dee Bost (11.2 ppg) round out the top scoring threats.

Ole Miss has the ability to score in bunches, but the defensive pressure brought by the Bulldogs, especially in their own building, should be the difference in this one.