Shakeel Moore sank a pair of 3-pointers early in overtime to Mississippi State break a five-game losing streak Saturday, shocking No. 11 TCU 81-74 in the 10th annual SEC/Big 12 Challenge in Starkville, Miss.
With the clubs locked at 66 after regulation, Mississippi State (13-8) saw Moore make the two long shots for a 72-68 lead just over a minute into overtime.
Cameron Matthews made all four his free throws down the stretch as the home side won for the first time since Jan. 7 over Ole Miss.
Big man Tolu Smith scored 27 points on 11-of-13 shooting to go along with 13 rebounds, five assists and four blocks. Dashawn Davis had 16 points and was 4 of 8 from long range with four assists.
Moore finished with 11 points on 3-for-6 shooting from distance and had five assists. Matthews had 10 points and 10 boards. Tyler Stevenson scored 10.
The Bulldogs shot 50 percent (29 of 58) and won the rebound battle 42-33.
For the Horned Frogs (16-5), Damion Baugh had 19 points and Emanuel Miller had 13 and seven rebounds. Shahada Wells and JaKobe Coles (eight rebounds) each had 12 points while Chuck O’Bannon had 10.
The Horned Frogs played nearly the entire contest without top scorer Mike Miles Jr., who averages 19.3 points per game. He suffered a hyperextended right knee right and did not return to the game. Miles said he will undergo an MRI exam on Sunday.
TCU got the huge blow with 16:14 left in the first half when Miles fell awkwardly playing defense. He had his right leg buckle and, while writhing in pain in front of the scorer’s table, clutched his right knee.
The Bulldogs’ offense continued to click, getting two baskets from Smith, a trey from Davis and a conventional 3-point play from D.J. Jeffries. The 10-2 run led to a 20-9 lead with 7:53 remaining.
Down by 10 with 1:53 left in the half, TCU got a bucket from Coles, a layup by Wells and a free throw from Baugh to leave the club trailing 31-25 at the break.
With 15:31 left in the second half, O’Bannon drilled a 3-pointer for TCU’s first lead at 38-37, and the teams traded the lead over the next eight minutes, with neither squad leading by more than three.
–Field Level Media
