MSU women move to No. 6

Fresh off a three-game sweep to win the Mayan Division of the Cancun Challenge, the Mississippi State women’s basketball team moved up to No. 6 in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 Poll.

The Bulldogs jumped one place in the ranking after improving to 6-0 this season with wins against No. 24 Arizona State, Columbia and a Green Bay squad that was receiving votes.

MSU notched its 59th-straight week in the poll, the seventh-longest active streak in the country. The Bulldogs’ 23-consecutive weeks in the Top 10 rates fifth nationally.

Mississippi State takes its No. 6 ranking to Jackson on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tip against Louisiana at Mississippi Coliseum. Tickets for the game, which is sponsored by American Medical Response, First Commercial Bank and The Westin Jackson, are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.hailstate.com/tickets.

Admission to Wednesday’s game is $5 for adults and $3 for youth age 17 and under. Bully’s Kids Club members get free entry into the game with their membership ID card.

Today, the Central Mississippi Alumni Association chapter will host a Meet and Greet with the team at the Westin. The event begins at 6 p.m., with the team arriving at 6:30. Valet parking will be available for $7.

Wednesday’s game will be the second time MSU has played at the “Big House,” with the first coming in 2006. The Bulldogs come to Jackson ranking in the top 40 nationally in 12 statistical categories. MSU rates 11th in the country in scoring defense (52.7 points per game) after holding all six of this season’s foes below 60 points.

The Bulldogs also rate sixth in the country in scoring margin (+28.5) and eighth in turnover margin (+8.83).

Victoria Vivians, who won two high school state championships in Mississippi Coliseum, was selected Cancun Challenge Mayan Division MVP after averaging 19.0 points per game. The Carthage native rates sixth in the Southeastern Conference this season in scoring with an 18.8 per-game clip.

Teaira McCowan was picked to the all-tournament team in the Mayan Division after averaging 15 points, 12.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in the three games. McCowan, who has three double-doubles over the last four games, is scoring at a 14.7 clip this season while rating fifth in the SEC with 10.5 rebounds per contest.

The Brenham, Texas, native also rates third in the league with a 59.4 field goal percentage, and she tops the conference and rates 10th nationally in offensive boards with 5.2 per game.

Roshunda Johnson has also seen a stellar start to her senior campaign, rating second on the team with 15.5 points per game. The Little Rock, Ark., native has been dangerous from the 3-point arc, rating third in the SEC with 2.3 3-pointers made per game and a 50 percent conversion rate from the arc.

That trio has benefitted from the distribution skills of senior Morgan William, who has dished an SEC secondmost 6.2 assist per game while leading the country in assist/ turnover ratio with a 9.3 mark. High School Football Postseason

MHSAA State Championships At Oxford Vaught-Hemingway Stadium

Friday, Dec. 1 Class A

Simmons vs. Nanih Waiya, 11 a.m.

Class 2A

Winona vs. Taylorsville, 3 p.m.

Class 6A

Starkville vs. Pearl, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 2 Class 3A

Yazoo County vs. Jeff Davis County, 11 a.m.

Class 4A

Noxubee County vs. East Central, 3 p.m.

Class 5A

West Point vs. Hattiesburg, 7 p.m.

College Football SEC Standings WESTERN DIVISION

Team…SEC...Overall Auburn…7-1…10-2* Alabama…7-1…11-1 LSU…6-2…9-3

Miss. State…4-4…8-4

Texas A&M…4-4…7-5 Ole Miss…3-5…6-6 Arkansas…1-7…4-8

EASTERN DIVISION

Team…SEC...Overall Georgia…7-1…11-1** S. Carolina…5-3…8-4 Kentucky…4-4…7-5 Missouri…4-4…7-5 Florida…3-5…4-7 Vanderbilt…1-7…5-7 Tennessee…0-8…4-8

* SEC Western Division champion ** SEC Eastern Division champion

Thursday, Nov. 23 Ole Miss 31, Miss. State 28

Friday, Nov. 24

Missouri 48, Arkansas 45

Saturday, Nov. 25

Auburn 26, Alabama 14 Georgia 38, Georgia Tech 7 Florida State 38, Florida 22 Louisville 44, Kentucky 17 Vanderbilt 42, Tennessee 24 Clemson 34, S. Carolina 10 LSU 45, Texas A&M 21

Saturday, Dec. 2 SEC Championship Game At Atlanta, Ga.

Georgia vs. Auburn, 3 p.m.

Associated Press Top 25

Rank. Team, Points, Record

1. Clemson (27), 1,478, 11-1

2. Oklahoma (24), 1,461, 11-1

3. Wisconsin (10), 1,405, 12-0

4. Auburn, 1,374, 10-2

5. Alabama, 1254, 11-1

6. Georgia, 1,246, 11-1

7. Miami (Fla.), 1,119, 10-1

8. Ohio State, 1,112, 10-2

9. Penn State, 960, 10-2

10. TCU, 956, 10-2

11. Southern California, 936, 10-2

12. Central Florida, 906, 11-0

13. Washington, 764, 10-2

14. Stanford, 693, 9-3

15. Notre Dame, 592, 9-3

16. Memphis, 592, 10-1

17. LSU, 566, 8-3

18. Oklahoma State, 532, 9-3

19. Michigan State, 457, 9-3

20. Northwestern, 378, 9-3

21. Washington State, 328, 9-3

22. Virginia Tech, 298, 9-3

23. South Florida, 114, 9-2

24. Mississippi State, 88, 8-4

25. Fresno State, 57, 9-3

Others receiving votes: North Carolina State 56, San Diego State 46, Louisville 16, Boise State 14, Toledo 13, Michigan 12, Virginia 4, Missouri 3, Florida Atlantic 2, Troy 1, Kansas State 1, Iowa State 1.

USA Today Amway Coaches Poll

Rank. Team, Points, Record

1. Clemson (25), 1,485, 11-1

2. Oklahoma (12), 1,462, 11-1

3. Wisconsin (21), 1,454, 12-0

4. Auburn, 1,402, 10-2

5. Alabama, 1272, 11-1

6. Georgia, 1,269, 11-1

7. Miami (Fla.), 1,123, 10-1

7. Ohio State, 1,123, 10-2

9. Southern California, 990, 10-2

10. Penn State, 970, 10-2

11. Central Florida, 957, 11-0

12. TCU, 934, 10-2

13. Washington, 822, 10-2

14. Memphis, 656, 10-1

15. Stanford, 640, 9-3

16. LSU, 596, 8-3

17. Notre Dame, 541, 9-3

18. Oklahoma State, 506, 9-3

19. Michigan State, 476, 9-3

20. Northwestern, 387, 9-3

21. Virginia Tech, 297, 9-3

22. Washington State, 266, 9-3

23. South Florida, 128, 9-2

24. Mississippi State, 124, 8-4

25. San Diego State, 86, 10-2

Others receiving votes: Fresno State 70; North Carolina State 65; Boise State 15; Troy 12; Florida Atlantic 7; Toledo 7; South Carolina 6; Army 1; Louisville 1.

2017-18 Bowl Schedule

(Subject to Change) All Times EST

Dec. 16 — Celebration Bowl, MEAC vs. SWAC, Atlanta, Noon (ABC) Dec. 16 — New Orleans Bowl, Sun Belt vs. C-USA, 1 p.m. (ESPN)

Dec. 16 — Cure Bowl, AAC vs. Sun Belt, Orlando, Fla., 2:30 p.m. (CBSSN) Dec. 16 — Las Vegas Bowl, MWC vs. Pac-12, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Dec. 16 — New Mexico Bowl, C-USA vs. MWC, Albuquerque, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Dec. 16 — Camelia Bowl, MAC vs. Sun Belt, Montgomery, Ala., 8 p.m. (ESPN) Dec. 19 — Boca Raton (Fla.) Bowl, AAC vs. C-USA, 7 p.m. (ESPN) Dec. 20 — Frisco (Texas) Bowl, AAC vs. MAC, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Dec. 21 — Gasparilla Bowl, St. Petersburg,

Today

COLLEGE BASKETBALL 5:30 p.m.

FS1 — Baylor at Xavier

6 p.m.

ESPN2 — Northwestern at Georgia Tech

ESPNU — Florida St. at Rutgers

7 p.m.

ESPN — Louisville at Purdue SEC — Radford at Vanderbilt

7:30 p.m.

FS1 — Maine at Georgetown

8 p.m.

ESPN2 — Iowa at Virginia Tech ESPNU — Illinois at Wake Forest

Fla., C-USA vs. AAC, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Dec. 22 — Bahamas Bowl, Nassau, CUSA vs. MAC, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN) Dec. 22 — Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, MAC vs. MWC, Boise, 4 p.m. (ESPN) Dec. 23 — Birmingham (Ala.) Bowl, AAC vs. SEC, Noon (ESPN)

Dec. 23 — Armed Forces Bowl, Army vs. C-USA, Fort Worth, Texas, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Dec. 23 — Dollar General Bowl, MAC vs. Sun Belt, Mobile, Ala., 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Dec. 24 — Hawaii Bowl, AAC vs. MWC, Honolulu, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN) Dec. 26 — Heart of Dallas Bowl, Big 12 vs. C-USA, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Dec. 26 — Quick Lane Bowl, ACC vs. Big Ten, Detroit, 5:15 p.m. (ESPN) Dec. 26 — Cactus Bowl, Big 12 vs. Pac12, Phoenix, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Dec. 27 — Independence Bowl, ACC vs. SEC, Shreveport, La., 1:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Dec. 27 — Pinstripe Bowl, ACC vs. Big Ten, Bronx, N.Y., 5:15 p.m. (ESPN) Dec. 27 — Foster Farms Bowl, Pac-12 vs. Big Ten, 8:30 p.m. (FOX)

Dec. 27 — Texas Bowl, Big 12 vs. SEC, Houston, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Dec. 28 — Military Bowl, ACC vs. AAC, Annapolis, Md., 1:30 p.m. (ESPN) Dec. 28 — Camping World Bowl, ACC vs. Big 12, Orlando, Fla., 5:15 p.m. (ESPN)

Dec. 28 — Alamo Bowl, Big 12 vs. Pac12, San Antonio, 9 p.m. (ESPN) Dec. 28 — Holiday Bowl, Big Ten vs. Pac-12, 9 p.m. (FOX)

Dec. 29 — Belk Bowl, ACC vs. SEC, Charlotte, N.C., 1 p.m. (ESPN) Dec. 29 — Sun Bowl, ACC vs. Pac-12, El Paso, Texas, 3 p.m. (CBS)

Dec. 29 — Music City Bowl, SEC vs. Big Ten or ACC, Nashville, Tenn., 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Dec. 29 — Arizona Bowl, Sun Belt vs. MWC, Tucson, Ariz., 5:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

Dec. 29 — Cotton Bowl Classic, Atlarge vs. At-large, Arlington, Texas, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Dec. 30 — TaxSlayer Bowl, SEC vs. Big Ten or ACC, Jacksonville, Fla., Noon (ESPN)

Dec. 30 — Liberty Bowl, Big 12 vs. SEC, Memphis, Tenn., 12:30 p.m. (ABC)

Dec. 30 — Fiesta Bowl, At-large vs. Atlarge, Glendale, Ariz., 4 p.m. (ESPN) Dec. 30 — Orange Bowl, ACC vs. Big Ten, SEC or Notre Dame, Miami Gardens, Fla., 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Jan. 1 — Outback Bowl, Big Ten vs. SEC, Tampa, Fla., Noon (ESPN2) Jan. 1 — Peach Bowl, At-large vs. AtLarge, Atlanta, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN) Jan. 1 — Citrus Bowl, SEC vs. ACC, Orlando, Fla., 1 p.m. (ABC)

Jan. 1 — CFP Semifinal at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif., 5:10 p.m. (ESPN) Jan. 1 — CFP Semifinal at Sugar Bowl, New Orleans, 8:45 p.m. (ESPN) Jan. 8 — College Football Championship (Semifinal winners), Atlanta, 8

NBA BASKETBALL 6 p.m.

NBA — Miami at Cleveland

9 p.m.

ESPN — Denver at Utah

NHL HOCKEY 7 p.m.

NBCSN — Chicago at Nashville

SOCCER 1:45 p.m.

NBCSN — Premier League, Leicester City vs. Tottenham

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 8 p.m.

CBSSN — UConn at Nevada

Others receiving votes: Green Bay 31, Arizona State 26, Oklahoma 25, New Mexico 19, Iowa 17, Michigan State 16, DePaul 8, Syracuse 6, Minnesota 5, Oklahoma State 5, Kansas State 4, Georgia 3, Southern California 3.

Mississippi State men’s 2018 SEC Schedule

Date --- Game --- Time --- TV

Jan. 2 --- Arkansas --- 8 p.m. --- SEC Network

Jan. 6 --- at Ole Miss --- 3:30 p.m. --SEC Network

Jan. 10 --- at Florida --- 6 p.m. --- SEC Network

Jan. 13 --- Auburn --- 2:30 p.m. --- SEC Network

Jan. 16 --- Vanderbilt --- 6 p.m. --- SEC Network

Jan. 20 --- at Alabama --- 7:30 p.m. --SEC Network

Jan. 23 --- at Kentucky --- 8 p.m. --ESPN

Jan. 27 --- Missouri --- 7:30 p.m. --SEC Network

Jan. 31 --- at South Carolina --- 7:30 p.m. --- SEC Network

Feb. 3 --- Georgia --- 5 p.m. --- ESPNU Feb. 6 --- Alabama --- 6 p.m. --- SEC Network

Feb. 10 --- at Missouri --- 1 p.m. --ESPN/2

Feb. 14 --- at Vanderbilt --- 6 p.m. --SEC Network

Feb. 17 --- Ole Miss --- 7:30 p.m. --SEC Network

Feb. 20 --- at Texas A&M --- 6 p.m. --- SEC Network

Feb. 24 --- South Carolina --- 2:30 p.m. --- SEC Network

Feb. 27 --- Tennessee --- 6 p.m. --- SEC Network

March 3 --- at LSU --- noon --- SEC Network

National Basketball Association

Schedule All Times EST

Sunday’s Games

Miami 100, Chicago 93 Minnesota 119, Phoenix 108 Brooklyn 98, Memphis 88

Monday’s Games

Cleveland 113, Philadelphia 91 Indiana 121, Orlando 109 Detroit 118, Boston 108 Portland 103, New York 91 Houston 117, Brooklyn 103 Dallas at San Antonio, late L.A. Lakers at L.A. Clippers, late Sacramento at Golden State, late

Today’s Games

Miami at Cleveland, 7 p.m. Phoenix at Chicago, 8 p.m. Washington at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Denver at Utah, 10 p.m. Milwaukee at Sacramento, 10 p.m.

Wednesday’s Games

Oklahoma City at Orlando, 7 p.m. Phoenix at Detroit, 7 p.m. Washington at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. Charlotte at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. Miami at New York, 7:30 p.m. Indiana at Houston, 8 p.m. Minnesota at New Orleans, 8 p.m. Brooklyn at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Memphis at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m. Golden State at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.