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State gives great effort, falls short in heartbreaking 68-64 loss to No. 1 Texas

3rupauk8_400x400by:Robbie Faulk•about 12 hours•

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Photo by Mississippi State Athletics

Mississippi State was on the verge of sending former coach Vic Schaefer and the No. 1 Texas Longhorns home unhappy and shocking the college basketball world on Thursday.

The Bulldogs had a lead in the final seconds of the third quarter after Jerkaila Jordan’s shot fell. A desperation heave from halfcourt by Rori Harmon would fall and Texas never allowed State to take the lead again in a 68-64 win.

State put together, perhaps, its best effort of the season on both ends of the court on Thursday. The Bulldogs had just 10 turnovers in the game with only three coming in the second half and they disrupted the Longhorn offense for most of the day. Texas’ efficient 7-of-14 night from three would certainly be big as the Longhorns got 4-of-6 makes and 16 points from Shay Holle despite shooting just 30% on the season.

MSU (19-10, 6-9 SEC) shot 40% from the field (22-of-55) and made 6-of-13 threes themselves. The Longhorns won the battle of the boards with a 39-33 advantage but State had a 30-22 advantage inside.

The game was back and forth down to the final few minutes and it rarely stretched to two possessions until late in the final quarter. Texas led just 11-10 in the first quarter before the Bulldogs surged ahead at 27-26 at the break. There were eight ties and 15 lead changes.

Jerkaila Jordan finished the night with 14 points in what could be her final game inside Humphrey Coliseum. She shot 4-of-11 from the field. Madina Okot had 11 points on 4-of-7 with four rebounds but had four fouls limiting her minutes.

With the loss, State is facing a must-win situation for its tournament hopes on Sunday. The Bulldogs travel to Auburn to take on the Tigers at 2 p.m. on SEC Network+.

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