Bulldogs trounce LSU

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Posted 7:34AM on Sunday, January 27, 2002

STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI - With its best player on the bench in foul trouble most of the first half, Mississippi State held its own. When Mario Austin returned, the Bulldogs dominated. Austin scored all 12 of his points in the second half and reserve Ontario Harper had a career-high 16 as Mississippi State defeated LSU 84-61 on Saturday. The Bulldogs (16-4, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) scored often in transition, shooting 63 percent from the floor, and controlled the boards (38-24). Torris Bright scored 21 points for the Tigers (12-7, 2-4). Ronald Dupree had 18 and nine rebounds. Mississippi State made 9-of-15 3-point shots to improve to 9-0 at home. Austin played less than 3 minutes in the first half after picking up two fouls early. ``It's the first time we had to play a stretch of game like that without Mario,'' Bulldogs coach Rick Stansbury said. ``Our team, even without Mario, kept control. Our shot selection was good.'' The Bulldogs managed to grab a 38-32 halftime lead with their top scorer and rebounder watching the final 17 minutes. Mississippi State was 6-for-9 from 3-point range in the first half. ``In the first half, I let my team down,'' said Austin, who came into the game averaging 18 points over his last nine games. With Austin on the floor for most of the second half, the Bulldogs pulled away. The 6-foot-8 center scored seven points during an 11-4 run that made the score 58-42 with 11:25 left. He finished 5-for-7 with six rebounds in 17 minutes. ``Every time he touched the ball early in the second half he either scored or created a foul,'' Stansbury said. Harper, a redshirt freshman, hit a 3-pointer with 8:05 left to give the Bulldogs a 63-45 lead. ``Well, in the second half we got beat in every phase of the game,'' LSU coach John Brady said. ``We got punished on the boards, and we got beat down the floor. In the last 20 minutes, we got pushed around.'' Harper was 6-for-7 from the field, including 4-for-4 from behind the arc. ``I came out and had some shots,'' Harper said. ``Coach (Stansbury) told me to take them, so I did. I just felt it today.'' Collis Temple III, the Tiger's second-leading scorer, returned to the lineup after missing LSU's last game with a foot injury. But he wasn't effective, scoring just two points in 26 minutes. Michael Ignerski and Marckell Patterson each scored 12 for Mississippi State. Ignerski has scored in double figures in his last three games.