Mario's back as Bulldogs face No. 13 Xavier

JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI - It&#39;s like opening day all over again for No. 24 Mississippi State. <br> <br> The Bulldogs (5-1) play their first game away from home Saturday - and it&#39;s a big one. No. 13 Xavier (5-1) is the opponent and New York&#39;s Madison Square Garden is the site. <br> <br> Most significantly, Mario Austin will make his season debut for the Bulldogs. <br> <br> The Bulldogs&#39; star center was a spectator for the first six games while the NCAA sorted through his high school academic record to determine if he was mistakenly declared eligible as a freshman. <br> <br> The NCAA Subcommittee on Initial Eligibility reversed its first decision earlier this week, freeing Austin to play. <br> <br> Mississippi State lost its opening game to Louisiana-Lafayette, but has routed it&#39;s next five mid-major opponents. <br> <br> Guards Timmy Bowers and Derrick Zimmerman have led the way for the Bulldogs, who are averaging 84 points per game. <br> <br> Bowers is averaging 18 points and three steals per game. Zimmerman is averaging 10.7 points and more than five assists per game. <br> <br> Without the 6-foot-9 Austin, coach Rick Stansbury has given more playing time to 7-footer Marcus Campbell, Lincoln Smith and Branden Vincent. <br> <br> ``The fact that those guys got a lot of minutes early will help us win ballgames somewhere,&#39;&#39; Stansbury said. ``One guy coming back changes a lot of things we do. But we will be improved in so many areas.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The trio filled in capably against the weaker opponents, but Austin&#39;s return comes just in time for the Bulldogs. <br> <br> Xavier will be one of the toughest opponents Mississippi State faces this season. <br> <br> Musketeers power forward David West was a preseason All-American, who like Austin flirted with the idea of going pro after last season. He is one of four returning starters. <br> <br> Xavier and Mississippi State will play the next two seasons on campus, starting in Starkville in 2004. <br> <br> Saturday&#39;s matchup is the marquee opener of a doubleheader with St. John&#39;s against Hofstra, two New York-area schools, as the nightcap. <br> <br> The chance to play a nationally televised game in one of the most famous arena&#39;s in the world played a big part in Mississippi State&#39;s decision to schedule Xavier. <br> <br> ``To say the publicity wasn&#39;t part of it would be dishonest,&#39;&#39; Stansbury said. ``It&#39;s a part of it. We&#39;re playing a great team in Xavier. But to be playing them on television in the media capital of the world, there&#39;s something to that.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> And the chance to play in the Garden has many of the Bulldogs stoked. <br> <br> Zimmerman, a Louisiana-native, went to New York for a summer camp for elite high school players. He went to Madison Square Garden on the trip, but didn&#39;t get to walk on the hardwood court. <br> <br> ``It&#39;s just the Garden. The name really speak for itself,&#39;&#39; he said.