Ad Disclosure
Rapid Reaction: Virginia outlasts Mississippi State in first round of NIT
By Keith Farner
Published:
Mississippi State clawed back into the game after the Bulldogs trailed by 8 at halftime, but it wasn’t enough down the stretch, as they saw their season end at Virginia on Wednesday night in the first round of the NIT.
Virginia benefitted from 14 Mississippi State turnovers, which led to 17 points. Tolu Smith led 3 Bulldogs in double figures with 16 points. Almost all of the other key statistical categories were close between the teams, including field goal percentage (each shot 50 percent) and rebounding (27-24 MSU).
Virginia missed a pair of free throws in the closing seconds, but the Cavaliers fouled the Bulldogs as they tried to get set for a game-tying 3-pointer with 2 seconds remaining. The final was prevailed Virginia 60-57.
A late technical foul to MSU’s Garrison Brooks after some physical play with less than a minute helped pad the Cavaliers lead.
It was the fourth straight postseason appearance for the Bulldogs, this time at John Paul Jones Arena. Virginia, meanwhile, was coming off victories in 7 of its last 11 games since the calendar turned to February. The Cavaliers earned a road win over then No. 7 Duke and picked up a pair of victories over NCAA Tournament participant Miami during that span.
The NIT appearance came after State lost to Tennessee, 72-59, in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament.
💦 @__garro from the top of the arc!#HailState🐶 | 📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/RwHVkf2krr
— Mississippi State MBK (@HailStateMBK) March 17, 2022
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
