Jan. 17, 2009
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Audio: Joe Fisher's 104.5 Interview with Coach Stallings
Audio: Tim Thompson's 104.5 Interview with Taylor
Audio: 104.5 Play of the Game - Taylor's dunk, Beal steal
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) -- Ravern Johnson scored 18 points to lead Mississippi State to a 73-66 victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday night.
The Bulldogs (13-5, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) led 32-27 at the half and took control of the game with a 14-3 run early in the second half.
"The second half, offensively, they made some tough shots," said Kevin Stallings, VU head coach, "and I thought there were times when we defended them really well and they still made them."
Vanderbilt (12-5, 1-2) pulled within six with 1:50 remaining, but never pulled closer.
Mississippi State shot 48 percent from the field and hit nine of its first 12 shots to open the second half.
"Vanderbilt is a team that can come from behind at any moment, so you can never be comfortable with a lead against them," Rick Stansbury, Mississippi State head coach, noted. "We were able to step up and hit some three's in the second half that got us on a roll."
The Commodores committed 17 turnovers, resulting into 19 points for Mississippi State.
Johnson was 6 of 12 from the field, including four 3-pointers.
Dee Bost added 16 points and six assists for the Bulldogs. Phil Turner chipped in 14 points.
Jeffery Taylor paced the Commodores with 18 points. Jermaine Beal and A.J. Ogilvy added 14 points each and Brad Tinsley had 10.
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