FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 3, 2006
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY – Athletic Media Relations
Contact: Tony Schmidt (662) 325-0968, (662) 312-4251

KENTUCKY EXTANDS STATE’S LOSING SKID TO SEVEN GAMES WITH 88-61 WIN

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Kentucky connected on 13 three-pointers to extend Mississippi State’s losing skid to seven consecutive games with an 88-61 win Wednesday night at Humphrey Coliseum on the MSU campus.

The visiting Wildcats scored the games first eight points, but MState responded with eight straight points of its own to even the score for the first and final time. UK went on a 15-8 scoring stretch over a four minute stretch to push the lead back out to nine points. State sliced the margin to within four points at 30-26 with 2:43 remaining in the opening half, but trailed going into the halftime break at 38-29.

UK connected on eight of its 13 treys in the first 20 minutes with Patrick Sparks –‘sparking’ the Wildcat assault. He connected on three treys from behind the arc, while Rondo Rajon also hit three. Sparks finished with a season-high 25 points.

“When you go on the road and shoot 13-of-25 from the three-point line, I don’t know if anyone will beat you, said MSU head coach Rick Stansbury. “That was the difference in the ballgame right there (three-point shooting).”

Opening the final half, UK extended the lead to double figures one minute deep into the final stanza 42-29. MSU got within three points with 16:36 to play after the Bulldogs out-scored UK 9-0 but could get not over the hump against the Wildcats. The Blue and White pushed its advantage back out to double figures midway through the final half to take the commanding lead at 68-52 with 8:48 left in the game.

State sophomore Charles Rhodes recorded his second career double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead all MSU scorers. Jamall Edmondson and Jamont Gordon each contributed 15 points. Edmondson was 5-of-12 from three-point land in the losing cause.

“They went 13 for 25 tonight; with a team shooting like that they can beat anyody,” said MSU forward Charles Rhodes.

State returns to the court Saturday, Feb. 4 hosting SEC West foe Auburn in a 6 p.m. contest at Humphrey Coliseum. The game will be televised regionally by Fox Sports Net South as part of the SEC Saturday Night package.

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