VIDEO: Bulldogs’ Magic Comes Up Short, Lose To SEC Rival South Carolina In Title Game

DALLAS, TX (WCBI) — The Mississippi State Bulldog magic comes one game short of a national title.

Coming off one of the biggest upsets in the history of sports, knocking off the undefeated number one overall seed Connecticut Huskies in overtime, the Bulldogs fall to SEC rival South Carolina in the national championship game, 67-55.

The Bulldogs battled, but looked a step slower than the Gamecocks, and South Carolina’s defense kept Mississippi State’s offense in check.

Throughout March, the Bulldogs were one of the hottest offensive teams in the NCAA tournament, averaging 85.8 points per game, on 42-percent shooting from the field and 33-percent from three.

The Bulldogs were also relentless on the boards on their way to the title game, out-rebounding teams by an average of fourteen per game.

In the title game against the Gamecocks, Mississippi State was held way below it’s tournament averages.

South Carolina’s stifling defense held the Bulldogs to a tournament lows across the board: 55 points, 34-percent shooting from the field and 16-percent from three.

The Gamecocks were also the first team in the tournament to out-rebound Mississippi State, by a margin of 40-27.

“South Carolina played really good, got to take your hat off to them”, head coach Vic Schaefer said after Sunday’s loss, “Dawn and her staff did a tremendous job today and those kids played extremely well.

“Probably wasn’t our best effort, but they had everything to do with that…and it was just a wasn’t our best day…that game doesn’t define these kids, or this season, or really these seniors career. They’ve had a heck of a year…347 teams watched us play today in Division One, so I’m awfully proud of them.”

Victoria Vivians led the Bulldogs on the offensive end, but struggled shooting from the field, scoring twelve points on 4-16 shooting, 1-5 from three.

South Carolina was paced by SEC Player of the Year, A’ja Wilson, who finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds.