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GAME NOTES: The NCAA's all-time leader in blocked shots leads his Mississippi State Bulldogs into tonight's SEC road clash with the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Mississippi State enters this game with a 20-8 overall record and an 8-5 mark in SEC play after Wednesday's 74-66 decision over Alabama. That win was the second in a row and fourth in the last five games for the Bulldogs, who are just 4-5 in true road tilts heading into this evening's affair. They hold a narrow lead atop the SEC West Division standings, so this game is critical.

Earlier this season, South Carolina handed mighty Kentucky its first loss, but the Wildcats got their revenge on Thursday with an 82-61 romp over the Gamecocks. That loss was the third in a row for USC, which is now 14-12 overall and 5-7 in conference. It is evident that the Gamecocks will have to win the SEC Tournament to earn a berth in the "Big Dance".

Mississippi State owns a 13-8 series edge over South Carolina, and this game marks the first and only meeting of the regular season between the two teams.

Jarvis Varnado set the career rejections record in Mississippi State's 74-66 win over Alabama on Wednesday. The big man finished that game with 17 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocks, and he has now swatted 536 shots in his career. It was also a record-setting night for Barry Stewart, as he became the Bulldogs' all-time leader in three-pointers made. Dee Bost scored 22 points in the clash, and while it wasn't the prettiest win of the season for MSU, the triumph certainly solidified the club's NCAA Tournament prospects. Ravern Johnson is scoring 13.7 ppg this season on 42.3 percent shooting from three- point range, and Varnado checks in with 13.3 ppg, 10.9 rpg and 142 blocks. Bost provides 12.6 ppg and 145 assists, while Stewart checks in with 11.3 ppg. The Bulldogs are scoring 72.9 ppg while holding opponents to 63.2 ppg on 37.4 percent field goal efficiency.

South Carolina connected on only 38.8 percent of its field goal attempts against Kentucky on Thursday, including a 4-of-20 effort from three-point range. The Gamecocks were outscored 15-5 from the foul line and outrebounded by a 47-31 margin. They also permitted the Wildcats to shoot 50 percent from the floor in a game in which nothing seemed to go right for USC. Devan Downey continues to shoot inefficiently, as the guard went 9-of-25 from the field en route to 26 points. Lakeem Jackson tallied 16 points for the Gamecocks, who received 10 points from Sam Muldrow. Downey is averaging 22.7 ppg this season to go along with 3.5 apg and 75 steals, but his shooting percentage has taken a major hit in recent weeks. Brandis Raley-Ross adds 11.4 ppg for the Gamecocks, who are scoring 72.8 ppg while allowing 70.0 ppg.

South Carolina will play with a great deal of toughness at home, but Varnado will control the paint and lead the Bulldogs to victory.