Mississippi State Ends 22-Game Road Losing Streak at Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. (WCBI/MSU Athletics) – Mississippi State sophomore I.J. Ready saw enough of a late-game run by Auburn Wednesday night.

Ready halted the run with a critical 3-point basket and followed that with four straight free throw as MSU grabbed its first win in the Auburn Arena with a 78-71 win over Auburn in a Southeastern Conference men’s basketball contest.

(AL.com)

MSU snapped a 22-game road losing streak. For the Bulldogs, it was their first road win since a 72-61 win at Georgia on Jan. 12, 2013. MSU also halted a five-game slide on the Auburn campus, winning here for the first time since 2008. Auburn saw a seven-game home winning streak snapped with the defeat.

Fresh off the heels of a 57-54 home win over Vanderbilt Saturday, MSU it back-to-back league wins of the first time since consecutive home wins over Texas A&M and Auburn last season.

MSU is now 9-9 overall and 2-3 in league play, while Auburn is 10-8 and 2-3.

The Bulldogs scored 21 points off 12 turnovers by the Tigers. MSU also won by holding Auburn to 40.3 percent shooting from the field.

MSU was led by Gavin Ware, who posted his 11^th career double-double. Ware had 16 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. Ready matched a career high with a team-high 18 points. Craig Sword and Fred Thomas were also in double figures with 10 points apiece.

Auburn closed within 67-65 after a 14-2 run before Ready hit his 3-point basket with 1:34 left in regulation.

MSU returns home for a Saturday afternoon matchup with Georgia. The SEC’s “Battle of the Bulldogs” will tip at 2 p.m. from Humphrey Coliseum and be televised by Fox Sports Net South.