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Gallery: USC vs. Mississippi State
Chris O'Meara/AP/
South Carolina guard Devan Downey (2) shoots around Mississippi State forward Jarvis Vernado (32) on Friday.
GoGamecocks.com
Postgame: Bost, MSU stop Downey
Posted on 03.14.09
Devan Downey was bested by Dee Bost again.
Downey still has a chance to be the SEC player of the year when the Associated Press announces its awards next week. But he will not be on the SEC all-tournament team, after scoring 11 points in his one game Friday.
Bost, the Mississippi State freshman, had a double-double and helped hold Downey in check. The first time they faced each other, in Starkville on Feb. 18, Downey had 19 points but shot 7-for-21. He was 5-for-20 on Friday.
Downey was asked in the postgame press conference what Bost does well against him.
“What you want me to say?” Downey said. “I mean, he outplayed me two games. He won two games, and I didn’t win any. So for respect, he outplayed me.”
Other theories. Mississippi State succeeded in stopping Downey the same way Tennessee did — by not letting him create offense in the lane. Coach Rick Stansbury said that was a big emphasis for his team.
“You’re not going to shut him out. You’re not going to keep him out of that lane,” Stansbury said. “You’ve got to keep him out of the lane not with him scoring but creating plays for everybody else. ... When he gets in there, make him shoot it versus dishing it off. For the most part, probably worked about as well as it can work.”
Tiring out? South Carolina has lost three of four. That could give rise to questions about the team’s depth and whether players are wearing down.
“I don’t really know. I mean you could always find excuses, oh we’re tired or whatever,” Evka Baniulis said. “I don’t know, it’s a good question.”
KEY MOMENT: Barry Stewart's two 3-pointers 82 seconds apart, took it from a 55-52 USC led to a 58-55 Mississippi State advantage. USC never led again, missing its next six shots after Stewart's first 3.
STAR OF THE GAME: Stewart finished with 20 points, double the amount he had in the first meeting with USC. "Sometimes you just feel it," Stewart said. "When the shot's falling you just keep shooting. The step-back (shot) is a move I worked on. I don't show it much, but I was just feeling it tonight."
POINT OF EMPHASIS: Rebounding may have been the biggest reason the margin of victory was larger for Mississippi State this time. The Bulldogs dominated the glass 50-36, with a number of the Gamecocks' rebounds coming in the final couple possessions, when it was no longer in doubt. The first time they played MSU barely out-rebounded USC, 45-42.
INJURIES: USC forward Mike Holmes left the game for five minutes in the first half when he twisted his ankle. He returned and finished playing 30 minutes, and said afterwards that it only bothered him a little.
— Seth Emerson
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