By By Richard Dark / EMG staff writer
Jan. 13, 2003
BATON ROUGE For the first time this season, something other than bureaucracy took Mario Austin out of the starting lineup at center for Mississippi State. He was still feeling the after effects of bumping knees with a Florida defender in the loss at home Tuesday night.
Now the Bulldogs have had two setbacks in a row after a hot 10-game streak. So, it's a sure bet the other members of the State squad are feeling those aftereffects as well.
And although all who observed agreed that Austin's critical lateral movement was hampered, neither Austin, nor Rick Stansbury would make excuses.
Instead, seven-footer Marcus Campbell started at center and Austin came off the bench during the opening minutes.
PGA homeboy:
During the first timeout, LSU recognized Former PGA champion and LSU alumni David Toms, who was in attendance.
Lynch mob:
The rabid LSU home crowd came unglued at the 6:41 mark of the first half when a referee whistled forward Jaime Lloreda with a technical foul after seemingly getting tangled up with Bulldog forward Michael Ignerski.
Lloreda responded by driving through the lane on the next few possessions and manufacturing a quick half dozen points. Like Austin, he was also a game-time decision because of injury.
Lynch mob 2:
Two straight foul calls on the home team at the 12:40 mark of the second half helped pull MSU to within four at 54-50 and it also served to raise the Tiger fans' collective blood pressure, as evidenced by incessant booing of the officials for several minutes.
Scoreboard tells story:
The 85 points was the most given up by MSU this season.
What's Next:
The brutal SEC road continues for Mississippi State, as they travel to Alabama next Wednesday night. LSU gets back into league play next Saturday afternoon here against Ole Miss.