Bulldogs snap losing streak

STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI - Mario Austin scored 18 points to help No. 22 Mississippi State overcome another sloppy performance and beat cold-shooting South Carolina 64-48 on Wednesday night.<br> <br> The Bulldogs (11-4, 1-3 Southeastern Conference) snapped a three-game losing streak despite committing 20 turnovers and showing only glimpses of the team that was not long ago ranked No. 7 in the country.<br> <br> The Gamecocks (7-8, 1-4) lost their fourth straight with their worst offensive game of the season.<br> <br> South Carolina shot a season-low 27.5 percent, hitting just about every part of the backboard with their wayward shots. They had more turnovers (20) than field goals (14) and finished with a season low in points.<br> <br> Kendrell Brown led South Carolina with 15 points, and Tony Kitchings and Chuck Eidson each had 12.<br> <br> The Bulldogs weren&#39;t a whole lot better, except for Austin, who was 9-for-13 from the field, but they still managed to avoid their first 0-4 SEC start in 16 years.<br> <br> Timmy Bowers had 15 points and Michael Ignerski had 10 points and nine rebounds for the Bulldogs.<br> <br> Mississippi State had a week off to stew over its three-game slide, during which it averaged 17 turnovers.<br> <br> The time off apparently didn&#39;t help the Bulldogs correct their giveaway problems. They came out flat, making careless passes and drawing several offensive fouls. They averaged a turnover a minute through the first 11 minutes.<br> <br> Worst of all, they couldn&#39;t get the ball to Austin, who went 13 minutes before taking his first shot.<br> <br> The Gamecocks couldn&#39;t capitalize on Mississippi State&#39;s shoddy ballhandling because their shooting was just as bad.<br> <br> South Carolina was 5-for-23 in the first half (22 percent) and committed 12 turnovers.<br> <br> Finally, with just under seven minutes left in the first half and the Bulldogs leading 13-10, Austin got involved with a putback. Once he got going, the Gamecocks couldn&#39;t stop him.<br> <br> The 6-foot-9 junior scored eight straight points in about 90 seconds to make it 21-10.<br> <br> He finished the half with 10 points, then started the second half with Mississippi State&#39;s first two baskets. The second started an 11-0 run - highlighted by consecutive 3-pointers by Bowers and Ignerski - that made it 44-24 with about 13 minutes left.

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