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Bulldog defense clamps down on Cal and moves on in NCAA Tournament, 59-46

3rupauk8_400x400by:Robbie Faulk•03/22/25•

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Madina Okot (Photo by Mississippi State Athletics)

A stifling defensive effort against one of the nation’s top three-point shooting teams would be the difference for Mississippi State as NCAA Tournament play began.

The Bulldogs allowed five points in the first quarter and never trailed again as they overcame their own offensive struggles in a 59-46 victory over California in Los Angeles. The fewest points allowed by a Bulldog team in their tournament history did the job.

“Just a really proud coach. We talked about how much respect we had for Cal and it was going to take our best defensive effort to come out with a win and that’s what we witnessed,” coach Sam Purcell said. “For us to put together four quarters and win, I couldn’t be more happy.”

Cal came into the ball game 16th nationally with nine three-pointers made per game and the Bulldogs held them to 3-of-21 on Saturday night. The Bears shot just 13-of-52 (25%) overall and had 24 turnovers that would lead to 17 State points.

Though the defense was stifling for State, the Bulldogs (22-11) had a tough time pushing the lead out most of the game. MSU shot 19-of-55 (35%) and made just 2-of-11 threes but connected on the free throw line at 19-of-24. State won the rebounds 39-37 and had 15 steals and 13 assists.

State defense brings it early and never lets up

MSU led 12-5 in the first quarter of the game and would not allow more than 17 points in a frame all game long. The lead was 26-19 at the half in favor of State but would get extended into double figures in the third quarter. After the Bulldogs got the 41-29 lead at the end of the third, the lead stayed at double figures the rest of the way.
“Our emphasis this week was defense. We knew that defense was going to win us this game,” Jerkaila Jordan said. “They can pick you apart, but we were locked in on the first quarter. We just got off to a great start and that was big.

“Before the game, we knew that we were the away team. The only people we had were us. We stayed together as a team and made sure we stayed poised.”

Madina Okot led State with her 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting and would made four of her final five shots in the game. Okot was especially strong on the defensive end as she had 13 rebounds, three steals and two blocks in her first NCAA Tournament game. It was the 11th double-double of the year for the Kenyan center.

Eniya Russell also came to play with her 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting and Jerkaila Jordan finished with 10 points on just 3-of-11.

With the victory, Purcell moved to 3-1 in the Big Dance since taking over as head coach with the Bulldogs. The coach now has a chance to do something he hasn’t done just yet and that’s get the team to the Sweet 16.

To do that, State is going to have to take down a No. 1 seed inside its own arena on Monday with USC (29-3) hosting the Bulldogs. Monday’s game time had not yet been announced as of this filing.  

“I’m not going to have a good night tonight trying to watch it on film. It’s going to be the McDonald’s All-American kids vs. the Burger King kids. They’re loaded with talent. The storyline in Hollywood has already been written. It’s USC vs. UConn in the Elite 8 so we’ve got our work cut out.”

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