McPhaul's last second free throws lift Mississippi State to 73-70 win over Belmont

TUPELO – Playing to the final whistle isn’t just a catch phrase – it could be the difference in winning and losing.

For Mississippi State, 0.2 second was all the time the Bulldogs needed on Saturday. With her team tied at 70 in the final seconds, Destiney McPhaul put up a final heave from halfcourt and was fouled.

McPhaul’s three free throws would deliver State to a 73-70 win over the Bruins.

“In the huddle, (Jerkaila Jordan) told us that if we couldn’t get a shot, draw the foul,” McPhaul said. “It was a big moment and I felt like anybody on the team could have stepped up and hit any of those free throws. It was just my time and I was able to knock them down.

The victory over Belmont was the second in as many years for the Bulldogs who also found a way to win a one possession game on the road a season ago.

Bulldogs overcome double-digit deficit in win

This one might have been an even tougher route for the Bulldogs as State trailed most of the game. After getting out to a 3-0 lead in the first couple of minutes of the contest, it wouldn’t be until midway through the fourth that the Bulldogs would get back on top.

Belmont led 19-9 after a quarter and 29-25 by halftime. State gave up 20 points in the third frame to see the lead grow to 49-41.

The Bulldogs came out of the break inspired and went on a 8-0 run to tie the game up. That advantage grew to an 18-5 run and the Bulldogs would eventually get a lead to seven. Leading 67-60 with 1:09 left, things looked to be locked up for the Bulldogs but Belmont wouldn’t go quietly.

Seven missed free throws in the fourth quarter allowed Belmont to stay around and the Bruins tied the game with 3 seconds left at 70-70. That’s when McPhaul was able to draw the foul and calmly knock down the free throws.

It got the Bulldogs to 10-1 on the season and handed them a win over a Belmont team whose first four losses all came to top 20 teams. For Purcell, things might not look perfect at times for his team but they are finding ways to continue to win.

“I just think it’s the huddles. It’s demeanor,” Purcell said of his team. “The best teams I’ve ever been a part of are player-led and this team keeps leading each other and it’s fun to watch.”

State won the game despite an abysmal 3-of-19 day from 3-point range and 12-of-21 from the free throw line. The Bulldogs also turned the ball over 19 times in the win and gave Belmont 16 points off of those turnovers. The Bruins were 9-of-29 from long range but made just three of their final 18 shots from deep.

When things weren’t going well, Jordan was the glue holding things together. The senior guard finished the game with 24 points on 11-of-24 shooting with 15 rebounds as she notched her fourth-straight game with 20 points or more.

Jordan didn’t panic when the shots weren’t falling for her team. She knew things were going to come together in the end.

“We’ve been in that position before,” Jordan said. “As long as we stay together and stay as one and make sure our defense was on the same page, our defense would turn to offense. Momentum was on our side. I think it was a test to see where we’re at mentally.”

Madina Okot also had a double-double on Saturday with 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting and 15 rebounds in 28 minutes. McPhaul scored 13 points off the bench after missing the last two games due to a coaching decision. She was 4-for-4 from the field and 5-for-5 from the free throw line with two assists.

Eniya Russell had 11 points but was 1-of-6 from the free throw line.  

UP NEXT

State’s month-long road trip continues on Tuesday as the Bulldogs travel to Monroe, La., to take on Louisiana-Monroe. The two teams meet at 5 p.m. and the game can be seen on ESPN+.

Purcell is hopeful that the winning continues with SEC play right around the corner.

“My team just has an attitude about them right now where they don’t want to lose,” Purcell said. “What a special win it was today to come to Tupelo and represent this state.”