November 20, 2009
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Fresh off its win against Southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi State returns to Humphrey Coliseum at 6 p.m. on Saturday to face Bethune-Cookman as part of the South Padre Island Invitational.
It will be the first meeting between the two schools.
The Bulldogs enter the contest sporting a 1-1 record, while the Wildcats are 1-2.
The game could also potentially be a record-setting performance for senior All-SEC forward Jarvis Varnado.
After blocking 8 shots against the Lions on Thursday to give him 15 for the season, he's now just three shy of tying Shaquille O'Neal's SEC career mark of 412.
The Brownsville, Tenn., native's swat total leads the nation, and he's also pacing the Bulldogs with a 21.0 scoring clip and 11.5 rebound average.
Varnado is one of four MSU players averaging in double-digit scoring. Sophomore Ravern Johnson is next at 13.5, followed by Dee Bost (12.0) and Barry Stewart (10.0). Bost also leads MSU behind the arc with 5 treys on just nine attempts.
Bethune-Cookman, fresh off its 74-55 dismantling of Edward Waters, is led in scoring by C.J. Reed's 20.3 average.
After Saturday, the Bulldogs close out their four-game homestand on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Texas-Pan American at the Hump.
Courtesy: mstateathletics.com
