ROBBY & TOM in OHIO: HailState Hoops Begins Final Four Mission on Friday

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State looks to advance to the national championship game for the second-straight year when it faces Louisville on Friday in the opening game of the Final Four in Columbus, Ohio.

Tip from Nationwide Arena is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2, with Adam Amin, Kara Lawson, Rebecca Lobo and Holly Rowe on the call.

Fans can attend a pep rally Friday at 4 p.m. at the Marriott Columbus University Area.

Jason Crowder and Charlie Winfield will call the action on the MSU Radio Network and online on www.HailState.com/Plus and the TuneIn app.

Westwood One radio will also broadcast the game on stations around the country, Sirius/XM channel 84 and the TuneIn app.

Mississippi State brings a 36-1 record into Friday’s national semifinal. MSU advanced to the Final Four after defeating UCLA 89-73 to capture the Kansas City Regional.

All-Americans Victoria Vivians and Teaira McCowan lead the Bulldogs in scoring, averaging 19.6 and 18.1 ppg, respectively this season. McCowan is also one of the nation’s best on the boards, pulling down 13.6 rpg.

The duo earned Kansas City Co-Most Outstanding Player honors. McCowan averaged 23.5 ppg and 18.0 rpg in the wins against NC State and UCLA, while Vivians scored at a 19.5 clip.

Morgan William has also been stellar in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 14.0 ppg and shooting 45 percent from the field, 50 percent from 3-point range and 89.5 percent at the free-throw line.

Louisville is tied with MSU and UConn for the most wins in the nation at 36-2. The Cardinals advanced to Columbus with a 76-43 win against Oregon State last Sunday in the Lexington Regional.

Asia Durr paces the Cardinals with 18.7 ppg. Myisha Hines-Allen scores at a 14.1 clip while pacing UL on the boards with 9.7 rpg.

GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: No. 1 Seed Louisville (NCAA Tournament National Semifinal)
Location: Columbus, Ohio (Nationwide Arena)
Date: Friday, March 30
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Television: ESPN2 (PxP – Adam Amin; Analysts – Kara Lawson, Rebecca Lobo; Reporter – Holly Rowe)
Watch Online: WatchESPN.com or WatchESPN App
Radio: MSU Radio Network, HailState.com/Plus, TuneIn App (PxP – Jason Crowder; Analyst – Charlie Winfield); Westwood One – Sirius/XM 84 (PxP – John Sadak; Analyst – Debbie Antonelli; Reporter – Krista Blunk)

SERIES HISTORY
LOUISVILLE (First Meeting)
At MSU: 0-0
At Louisville: 0-0
At Neutral Sites: 0-0

First Meeting

BULLDOG BITES

• Mississippi State is appearing in its 2nd-straight Final Four. The Bulldogs were the National Finalist a year ago after snapping UConn’s 111-game win streak in the national semifinal.
• Sunday’s victory against UCLA was State’s school-record 36th win of the season and 125th-career win for MSU’s seniors.
• SEC Coach of the Year Vic Schaefer was named WBCA National Coach of the Year last Thursday. He is also a finalist for Naismith National Coach of the Year.
• Victoria Vivians was named First Team All-American by Associated Press, the first Bulldog named to the first team since 2003 (LaToya Thomas), on Monday. She was a Second Team selection by the USBWA and Third Team honoree by ESPNW.
• Teaira McCowan is a First Team All-American by ESPNW and Third Team by Associated Press.
• McCowan and Vivians were named Co-Most Outstanding Players of the Kansas City Regional. McCowan averaged 23.5 ppg, 18.0 rpg, 4.0 bpg, while Vivians averaged 19.5 ppg.
• In Sunday’s win, this year’s squad set a new school record for season scoring with an SEC 7th-most 3,033 points.
• McCowan tied an NCAA Tournament record going 11-for-11 against NC State. That performance and her 21 rebounds vs. UCLA were both NCAA regional round records.
• McCowan’s 502 rebounds this season are the most by an SEC player since the NCAA officially sponsored the sport in 1982 (539 – 1978). It is 2nd in SEC history.
• McCowan and Vivians are averaging 21.5 ppg and 20.3 ppg, respectively in this year’s NCAA Tournament.
• In this year’s “Big Dance” Morgan William is averaging 14.0 ppg. She is shooting 45% from the field, 50% from 3-point range and 89.5% from the free-throw line.
• Blair Schaefer was 3-for-3 from the arc Sunday, giving her 95 triples for the year which is 2nd-best in school history.