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| MEDIA INFORMATION |
| Date |
Wednesday, December 17 | 6:00 p.m. |
| Location |
Starkville, Miss. | Humphrey Coliseum |
| Tickets |
Purchase Tickets Online |
| TV |
SEC Network |
| Video/Audio |
WATCHESPN/AStateRedWolves.com |
| Radio |
EAB Red Wolves Sports Net. 107.9 FM KFIN |
| Live Stats |
AStateRedWolves.com |
| Twitter |
@AStateMB |
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@AStateGameDay |
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@AStateRedWolves |
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#AStateMB |
| Game Notes |
A-State | Mississippi State
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| ARKANSAS STATE RED WOLVES |
| Record |
2-4, 0-0 Sun Belt Conference |
| Last Game |
73-65 Loss at Toledo |
| Head Coach |
John Brady |
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Career: 382-311 (23 Seasons) |
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A-State Record: 101-95 (7 Seasons) |
| MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS |
| Record |
5-3, 0-0 Southeastern Conference |
| Last Game |
59-49 Loss at Oregon State |
| Head Coach |
Rick Ray |
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Career: 29-44 (3 Seasons) |
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Record at school: Same |
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QUICK HITS
A-State dropped to 2-4 on the young season with a 73-65 loss at Toledo. A-State led by as many as 14 points in the first half, but an 11-2 run by the Rockets closed the Red Wolves' lead to 42-37 at halftime. A-State managed to tie the game at 65-65 late, but Toledo clinched the win with an 8-0 run to end the contest.
A-State dropped to 0-4 all-time against Toledo and lost to them for the second consecutive season after dropping a 78-65 decision in Jonesboro last year. A-State fell to 1-4 against Mid-American Conference opponents under head coach John Brady.
The Red Wolves outshot the Rockets 43.1 percent (25-58) to 41.1 percent (23-56) and shot 9-23 (39.1 percent) from beyond the arc to Toledo's 7-23 (30.4 percent) mark. However, the Rockets were 20-25 (80 percent) from the charity stripe, whereas Arkansas State only made it to the free throw line eight times (6-8 for 75 percent).
The 2014-15 campaign represents the program's 87th season as the Red Wolves have presently amassed a 1,144-1,081 all-time record (.514 win pct.) dating back their inaugural 1926-27 season. A-State has won at least 20 games in a season five times – 1986-87 (21-13), 1987-88 (21-14), 1988-89 (20-10), 1990-91 (23-9) and 1997-98 (20-9) since joining the NCAA-I ranks in 1970-71.
A-State's 19 victories in the 2013-14 season (19-13 record) tied for the second most single-season wins since 1997-98 and also marked a tie for the highest win total in head coach John Brady's A-State coaching career. The Red Wolves went 19-12 overall in 2012-13, which was the program's most wins since 1997-98 (20-9 record). A-State has achieved 17 wins or more in a campaign five of the last six seasons to date and the Red Wolves have posted an 88-78 record (.530) since the 2009-10 season.
A-State has compiled double-digit victories in 16 of the last 18 seasons. The Red Wolves have won at least 15 games or more on 11 occasions, which includes four of the last five seasons to date.
Arkansas State ends a three-game road swing with Wednesday's SEC Network televised matchup at Mississippi State. After the game with the Bulldogs, A-State returns home to face Marshall this upcoming Saturday (Dec. 20) in its final home non-conference game of the season. The Red Wolves travel to Niagara for its final non-conference game of the season Dec. 23.
A-STATE/MISSISSIPPI STATE SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday's meeting with Mississippi State will mark the 12th time A-State has faced the Bulldogs. Mississippi State holds a 9-2 advantage in the series and has a five-game winning streak. A-State's last victory was a 76-61 win in Jonesboro during the 1955-56 season. The only other A-State victory was in the first game of the series back in the 1950-51 campaign. A-State defeated the Bulldogs 67-61 in Jonesboro in the second game of the season. Mississippi State won the last meeting during the 2005-06 season in Starkville by a score of 68-63.
In the last meeting, A-State got a career night from Isaac Wells (19 points and nine rebounds), but couldn't overcome the Bulldogs in a 68-63 loss. Guards Jim Jones (13) and Dereke Tipler (12) also scored in double figures for Arkansas State. Mississippi State shot 44.7 percent from the field for the game compared to A-State's 36.1 percent and shot 74.2 percent to A-State's 60 percent from the free-throw line to help earn the win. Jamont Gordon led the Bulldogs with 16 points, while Jamall Edmondson poured in 15 of his own. Piotr Stelmach grabbed seven rebounds to pace the Bulldogs' rebounding effort.
Arkansas State sports a 13-46 (.220) record against teams that are currently in the Southeastern
Conference. A-State has nine wins against Ole Miss, two versus Mississippi State, and one each over Auburn and LSU to make up its 13 wins. A-State has played 10 of the 14 schools currently in the SEC, but has never faced Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida, or Texas A&M.
LAST TIME OUT
Arkansas State dropped its second consecutive road contest last Saturday at Toledo by a score of 73-65. A-State led for 23:45 of the game, but couldn't pull off the win as Toledo used separate runs of 11-2, 11-0, and 8-0 to come back to win the game. The Red Wolves led by as many as 14 in the first half, but Toledo cut it to 42-37 at halftime thanks to an 11-2 run to close the half. A-State led 51-45 early in the second half, but an 11-0 run put Toledo on top 56-51. The Red Wolves battled back to tie the game at 65-65 with just over two minutes left, but Toledo finished the contest on an 8-0 run.
The Red Wolves did have their first game with four scorers in double figures with Cameron Golden leading the way with 18. Nouhoum Bocoum scored 13 in the first start of his career, while Sean Gardner (12) and Anthony Livingston (11) were in double digits as well.
A-State outshot Toledo 43.1 percent to 41.1 percent, but the Rockets made 20-25 free throws, while A-State only made it to the line eight times throughout the game. A-State had 16 assists to only 10 turnovers, but Toledo was better with a 15-5 assist-to-turnover ratio.
The Rockets' win over A-State extended their series lead to 4-0 over the Red Wolves, while A-State fell to 6-14 (.300) against current members of the MAC.
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
The Bulldogs enter Wednesday's game with a 5-3 record, but have lost three straight after opening the season 5-0. Mississippi State defeated Western Carolina, Mississippi Valley State, Utah State, and Clayton State in home games, before defeating St. Louis in the Corpus Christi Coastal Classic. However, the Bulldogs dropped their next game to TCU in the tournament before losing to Tulane and Oregon State on the road.
Mississippi State lost to Oregon State 59-49 in its last game on Dec. 13 in Corvallis, Ore. Both teams didn't shoot well in the defensive battle as Oregon State was just 22-59 (37.3 percent) from the field, while Mississippi State was only 17-49 (34.7 percent) from the floor. Fred Thomas was the Bulldogs' lone scorer in double figures with 16 points and narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds.
This season, Mississippi State is led in PPG by Fred Thomas with a 13.0 average. Gavin Ware (12.5) and Roquez Johnson (11.0) are also averaging double figures, while Ware is the teams leader in rebounding (6.5 RPG) and blocked shots (2.0 BPG). Trivante Bloodman is the team's leader in assists with 3.9 APG.
Living-strong: Sophomore forward Anthony Livingston has had little problems adjusting to Division I basketball after transferring from San Jacinto Junior College. He's led the team in scoring four of the team's first six games and got A-State's first double-double of the season against Belhaven with 19 points and 10 rebounds, all defensive. He added 11 points and four rebounds in the 73-65 loss to Toledo. He leads A-State in points per game (17.3), rebounds per game (6.5), field-goal percentage (56.5 percent), and blocks per game (1.2). The PPG mark ranks fourth in the conference and 80th in the nation, while the field-goal percentage is sixth in the SBC and 50th in the country.
Nouhoum, No Problem: A-State junior center Nouhoum Bocoum registered the team's second double-double of the season against Purdue with a 10-point, 10-rebound effort. The 10 rebounds were a career high, while the 10 points were the second most he's put up this season. For his efforts in that game he drew his first career start against Toledo Saturday. He recorded a career-high 13 points and grabbed five rebounds. He ranks second on the team in rebounding with a 6.2 RPG average and fourth in points with a 7.2 PPG average. His 6.2 RPG mark ranks 15th in the SBC.
Doubling Up: A-State has had at least three players score in double figures in five of its six games this season, with the only exception being the Purdue contest. A-State had its first game with four players in double digits against Toledo Saturday with Cameron Golden leading the way with 18 points. Nouhoum Bocoum added 13 points, while Sean Gardner (12) and Anthony Livingston (11) also tallied double figures.
The Golden Rule: Junior guard Cameron Golden led the team with 18 points against Toledo and is second on the team with a 14.8 PPG average. That mark ranks him eighth in the conference. He is team's leader in steals with a 2.3 SPG mark, a total that ranks fourth in the SBC and 33rd in the nation. He has the most assists on the team with 24, but is second in APG with a 4.0 average, good for fourth in the conference. Additionally, Golden is third in the conference with 17 total three-point field goals made for a 2.8 per game average.
Career High For Cali: Sophomore guard Daijon Macklien (nicknamed Cali because his home state is California) played a career-high 21 minutes against Toledo and scored a career-high seven points by connecting on two three-pointers and adding a free throw. He also added two assists and a steal against the Rockets.
No Rest For the Weary: Cameron Golden, Anthony Livingston, and Sean Gardner are all in the top-10 in minutes played in the Sun Belt Conference. Golden is second with 35.3 per game average, while Livingston is sixth with 33.7 MPG and Gardner is eighth with 33.0 MPG. Golden's mark also ranks 53rd in the nation.
National and SBC Rankings: The Red Wolves rank first in the conference in fewest turnovers (74), a mark that ranks 12th in the nation. A-State is fourth in the conference with a 36.4 percent mark in three-point shooting and that average ranks 106th in the nation.
Brady Homecoming: A-State head coach John Brady earned his master's degree from Mississippi State and was a graduate assistant coach for the Bulldogs in 1977. After a high school head coaching stint, Brady returned to Mississippi State as an assistant coach and was with the Bulldogs for eight seasons from 1982-90. He served as the primary recruiter for head coach Richard Williams the last four years of his tenure.
Gardner's Great Aim: Redshirt junior guard Sean Gardner scored an A-State season-high 28 points against Belhaven Dec. 6. He connected on 10-of-13 shooting from the field and made 8-of-9 three-point attempts. His two, two-point field goals were both on dunks. The first was on an offensive rebound he soared through the air to slam home and the other was on an alley-oop pass. Gardner got back to his scoring ways with 12 points against Toledo after only scoring two against Purdue. He is third on the team in scoring with a 12.0 PPG average, which is tied for 16th in the Sun Belt Conference. He also has a .382 shooting percentage from three-point range this season, ranking him 13th in the conference.
Running Waters: Junior forward Charles Waters recorded his first career points against UCA on Dec. 1 when he intercepted a pass and took it coast-to-coast for a slam dunk. He added six points against Belhaven Saturday night with four of his six points coming via the slam dunk. He intercepted a pass and threw it down on the other end for his first points of the night against the Blazers, in similar fashion to his dunk at UCA, and after a layup, added two more points on an alley-oop dunk.
Number 100: Arkansas State head coach John Brady recorded his 100th win as A-State's head coach with the 67-49 victory over UCA on December 1. He became the fifth coach to register at least 100 wins at Arkansas State joining John Rauth, Nelson Catalina, Dickey Nutt, and Marvin Adams. Adams is the coach above Brady with 111 wins that he tallied from 1976-84.
Did You Know?: Junior forwards Ronnie White and Nouhoum Bocoum were teammates at Paris (Texas) Junior College this past 2013-14 season ... Sophomore guard Daijon Macklien played football at NCAA Divsion II North Alabama in the 2012 season ... Sean Gardner and junior forward Charles Waters are stepbrothers ... Nouhoum Bocoum wears size 18 shoes ... Cameron Golden has switched his jersey number to one for this upcoming season after wearing zero this past 2013-14 campaign.
Close Ties: Guard Josh Pierre's father, Butch, will embark on his seventh season as the associate men's basketball head coach at Oklahoma State University. Butch spent 11 seasons (1997-08) at LSU as a member of current A-State head coach John Brady's staff, including six as an associate head coach. Josh has a twin brother, Joseph III. Pierre doubled his points production last season by tallying 12 points in eight games after netting six points in four appearances for the 2012-13 campaign.
