Roberts a pleasant surprise for MSU

By By Austin Bishop / EMG regional sports director
Nov. 26, 2003
STARKVILLE Rick Stansbury will certainly have plenty of presents under his tree this Christmas.
But none of them will be more appreciated than the 6-foot-9, 235-pound gift he got during the summer.
Stansbury and the Mississippi State Bulldogs unwrapped that package on Saturday night as Lawrence Roberts sliced and diced his way through and around the Tennessee-Martin defense for 26 points and 15 rebounds in a 90-74 win for the defending SEC West Division champions.
The Baylor University transfer was 12-of-17 from the floor, with all of those coming from five feet or closer, working the baseline for layup after layup.
That's a big statement, consider the fact that the Bulldogs lost three starters Austin, point guard Derrick Zimmerman and forward Michael Ignerski off that team following the season, and a fourth when Ontario Harper went down with a knee injury during preseason workouts. To make matters worse, top prep signeed Travis Outlaw opted to go straight to the NBA.
But that is where the Lawrence Roberts factor comes in.
The two-time All-Big 12 performer landed on MSU's doorstep after Baylor University allowed its basketball players to transfer without the penalty of sitting out a year.
That decision came in the wake of the much-publicized shooting death of BU hoopster Patrick Dennehy during the off-season that set off an investigation into coach Dave Bliss and the Baylor basketball program.
The addition of Roberts would have been welcomed at any point, but the timing for the Bulldogs was critical.
Superstar power forward Mario Austin of York, Ala., had just decided to turn pro after an outstanding junior season.
There will be comparisons between Roberts and Mario Austin, who jumped to the NBA after completing his junior season just months before Roberts' transfer to Starkville.
Roberts, who also has solid range from 15 feet and out, says the Bulldogs have a chance to do well in the Southeast Conference.
Mississippi State plays host to the University of South Alabama tonight at 7 p.m. in a non-conference matchup at Humphrey Coliseum, before hitting the road to take on Western Kentucky on Saturday.
Before entering SEC play on Jan. 7 at Ole Miss, the Bulldogs will take on the likes of Alabama-Birmingham, Xavier and Santa Clara.