BULLDOG BITS

Basketball

Fans can get reduced priced November tickets for Mississippi State men's and women's basketball games now through Halloween night as part of the “Spooktacular Sale” on Hailstate. com/tickets.

The “Spooktacular” deals include four men's basketball games for $10 each and four women's basketball games $10 each for adults and $6 for youth.

The men's games includes Nov. 5 vs. Florida International at 7 p.m., Nov. 8 vs. Sam Houston State at 7 p.m., Nov. 14 vs. ULM at 6 p.m., and Nov. 17 vs. New Orleans at 2 p.m., while the women's game ears Nov. 9 vs. Southern Miss at 2 p.m., Nov. 11 vs. Tennessee Martin at 7 p.m., Nov. 15 vs. Murray State at 7 p.m., and Nov. 18 vs. Troy at 7 p.m.

There is also a Bama Weekend Package $10 with promo code “Trickortreat” and that is for the two men's basketball games on Nov. 14 vs. ULM and Nov. 17 vs. New Orleans and the two women's basketball games on Nov. 15 vs. Murray State and Nov. 18 vs. Troy.

The MSU men's team is coming off its 11th NCAA Tournament appearance. The Bulldogs have dialed up 48 on-court victories over the last two seasons which is tied for second-most in program history over a two-year span and fourth among Southeastern

Conference schools. MSU'S roster features a solid nucleus of five returning players who combined for 83 starts and close to 50 percent of the team's points in Abdul Ado, Tyson Carter, Reggie Perry, Nick Weatherspoon and Robert Woodard II.

The MSU women's team begins its run for a third consecutive SEC title. The Bulldogs are led by graduate guard Jordan Danberry, who ranked third on the team in scoring (13.1 points per game), second in assists (125) and second steals (65) after starting all 36 games a year ago. She's joined by juniors Chloe Bibby and Andra Espinoza-hunter as MSU'S returning starters.

Men's Golf

MOBILE, Alabama – Mississippi State men's golf earned the second team victory of the coach Dusty Smith era and topped the 13-team field by 14 strokes on Sunday at the 2019 Steelwood Collegiate Invitational.

The Bulldogs dominated the field with four top 20 finishes had four players in the top 20 ignited by sophomore Ford Clegg who took home the individual title, and senior Garrett Johnson who registed a second-place finish, one stroke off Clegg's winning pace.

“I am so happy for this team,” MSU head coach Dusty Smith said. “They are a tough minded and resilient bunch.

This was a total team effort from top to bottom this week.”

Clegg captured his first career college crown thanks to a five-under, bogey free final round. He struggled hitting the ball on the front nine, but was 5-for-5 making midrange putts.

“The whole time I was telling myself to be patient and that the birdies would start dropping,” Clegg said.

He converted on both reachable par fives on holes 9 and 10, then, it was smooth sailing from there as the sophomore drained a 10-footer for par on 13 to keep the momentum. He was able to birdie 16 and 18 to finish strong. His putter was the key to his success because he was able to make the momentum putts to keep his championship round going the right direction.

For the weekend, Clegg carded 14 birdies and bested Johnson for the individual title by just one stroke.

“To win individual was big to me because it's a goal I've had ever since I committed,” Clegg said. “To be able to break through and win was huge because the time and effort is paying off. To know that I can win at the college level is huge because I proved I can compete with the best of the best and continue to get better and take the momentum into the spring season.”

Johnson also played great golf this weekend. The senior's tournament was highlighted by a six-under second round where he fired three birdies in a row on holes three through five. He shot two-under during Sunday's final round and earned a second place finish, his highest this season.

Freshman Hunter Logan played pretty consistent golf and posted scores of 71, 72 and 74. He finished tied for 14 th, his best finish of the season.

Senior Peng Pichaikool responded with a bogey free score of two-under after he finished the first two rounds making a 73 and 75, respectively. He bolted 20 spots up the leaderboard to end in a tie for 16th.

“We had a great opportunity in front of us today, and the guys took advantage of it,” Smith said. “Obviously, happy for Ford getting the individual win. I know it is something he has worked hard for. Garrett did an unbelievable job this week and was right there with a chance to win on the last hole. Really proud of Peng's response today in the final round. He played a huge round for the team.”

Junior Austin Fulton started the day off hot with a birdy on one but ended his round with a four-over, 76.

State dominated the parfour's on the 7096 yard course and averaged 12 strokes better than the field, which included No. 38 Arkansas State. The Bulldogs also came away a stroke better than any team on the par-five's.

Sophomore Ben Nelson, who competed as an individual, moved up the leaderboard seven spots after round two to finish in a eight-way tie for 29th. He shot two-under on the front nine while keeping his scorecard clean.

Freshman William Wann, also competing as an individual, improved his scores each day. He finished the tournament with a total score of 230.

“Winning is a difficult thing to do,” Smith said. “I want our guys to celebrate what they accomplished this week. It is exactly what we needed heading into the offseason. We will take these next few months to get better and to continue to grow as a team.”

The next event for State is January 27-28 when it travels to Arizona Intercollegiate hosted by the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Women's Golf

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – Mississippi State women's golf sits at eighth in the White Sands Invitational at the Ocean Club Golf Course after the first round of its fall season finale on Monday.

The Bulldogs began the three-round invitational, hosted by Houston, by carding a total of 294 and shooting 6-over par.

“This course is very visually challenging,” MSU head coach Ginger Brown-lemm said. “If you let all of that affect your chosen shot, then there will be penalties. The wind, which always blows 1020 mph is nothing we haven't competed and practiced in. Factor that in with bunkers, ocean inlets, and the grain of Bermuda green, you have a real test."

Freshman Ashley Gilliam shot 1-under par 71 to finish Monday as MSU'S best performer. She led the Bulldogs after placing tied for 12th, only 5 strokes out of first place. With her seventh round of par or better for the season, she now sits tied for third on State's freshman list for the category.

Sinking three birdies, senior Clara Moyano shot an even 72 for the day, while tying for 21st. This marks her sixth round of par or better for the fall season.

Tied for 42nd, freshman Abbey Daniel shot an eagle on hole 2 and finished the day 3-over par 75. Junior Blair Stockett carded a score of 76, tying for 53rd, while junior Aubree Jones rounded out the Bulldogs with a score of 80.

Individual Lauren Miller also shot a round score of 3-over par 75 to finish the day in an 11-way tie for 42nd.

“We worked hard after our round on the mental process we follow, then we worked on cleaning up some errant shots that costed us,” Brownlemm said. “We will go out and work hard in the second and final round. This is team is known to be final round Dawgs. Hail State!”

The Bulldogs will return to the Paradise Island Golf Course today to compete in the second round of the invitational.