Varnado leads Mississippi State to 76-63 win

COLUMBIA, S.C - Jarvis Varnado had 19 points to lead five
Mississippi State players in double figures and the Bulldogs won
their fourth straight over South Carolina, 76-63, on Saturday.
Varnado, who set the NCAA career blocks mark his last game,
followed that with his highest scoring total against an
Southeastern Conference opponent this season.
Barry Stewart scored 18, Ravern Johnson 15, Kodi Augustus 13 and
Dee Bost 11 for the Bulldogs (21-8, 9-5 SEC), who used a 21-7 run
in the second half to break things open.
Devan Downey, the SEC's leading scorer, was held to 12 points,
his lowest output in a league game this season. The Gamecocks
(14-14, 5-9) have lost five straight.
Mississippi State had reached the 20-win mark last time out,
along with Varnado eclipsing the NCAA mark for career blocks. The
Bulldogs had won their past three against South Carolina and this
figured an cushy way to bolster its NCAA tournament credentials.
But Mississippi State was up just 39-37 with 16:40 left after
Downey hit a floater over the outstretched arms of the 6-foot-9
Varnado.
But the Bulldogs' shot-blocking machine showed off his offense
next trip down to get the decisive run started. Augustus hit three
foul shots and Stewart a jumper to make it 48-37 three minutes
later.
Mississippi State wasn't done. Johnson added a 3-pointer and two
foul shots and Stewart canned his fifth three of the game for a
60-44 lead.
South Carolina couldn't get any closer than nine points the rest
of the way.
It was one of the worst showings for Downey, who had dazzled
opponents for most of the SEC season. In this one, though, he shot
just 5 of 14 and missed all seven 3s he tried.
Sam Muldrow led the Gamecocks with 15 points. Ramon Galloway
added 14.
The Bulldogs got things going quickly.
They made five of six shots during one stretch, including
smooth-looking 3s by Bosh and Stewart, to move in front 17-10 less
than nine minutes in.
Stewart, who became the Bulldogs' all-time leader in 3-pointers
made in the win over Alabama last Wednesday, continued hitting them
against the Gamecocks.
He added two more in the opening half, the second which put
Mississippi State ahead 23-12.
South Carolina got as close as 29-24 after Bradis Raley-Ross'
3-pointer, Downey's three-point play and a slicing drive by Downey.
However, Ravern Johnson made two 3-pointers down the stretch as
Mississippi State took a 35-28 halftime lead.
Varnado increased his NCAA blocks mark, swatting back Sam
Muldrow's attempt with 6 minutes left.