Mississippi State finally had something go right in Wednesday's overtime win against South Carolina.
Now coach Rick Stansbury said his team can focus on salvaging a promising season while there's still time.
''We needed something good to happen to us,'' Stansbury said. ''We had some tough losses. Those two overtime losses to Georgia and LSU were tough. The Kentucky loss. Those were tough, cut-your-heart-out type of losses. But, again, our guys found a way to stay together, fight and go on the road and get a win. That's why you play 16 (SEC) games.''
The 69-67 victory over the Gamecocks put an end to a brutal five-game losing streak that blighted most of February. Although a win over South Carolina - the SEC's worst team - might not seem like much to celebrate, it was sorely needed as the Bulldogs try to repair their once-sparkling NCAA tournament resume.
It also seemed to break some of the tension within the team. Junior forward Arnett Moultrie made some critical comments about his teammates before the South Carolina win, saying ''everybody had their own agendas'' and ''everybody doesn't work as hard as they say.''
Mississippi State (20-10, 7-8 SEC) has another crucial game Saturday, when it hosts Arkansas (18-12, 6-9) in the regular-season finale.
''I'm awful proud with the way our guys responded,'' Stansbury said. ''We played with great effort, but more importantly, when (South Carolina) made runs at us and even got the lead, our guys stayed focused and really stayed together. We really executed down the stretch and made the plays we had to make.''
The good news from the South Carolina win bodes well for the Bulldogs during March.
Renardo Sidney - the 6-foot-10 forward who has struggled with consistency this year - had one of his best games with 12 points, 14 rebounds and two blocked shots while playing a season-high 35 minutes. Freshman Rodney Hood also returned to the lineup after missing one game with a bruised knee, contributing five points, two rebounds and two steals in 13 minutes off the bench.
''(Hood's) not just important as a player but also from the standpoint of our depth,'' Stansbury said. ''It does so much to our depth when you take a guy who was playing 37 to 38 minutes a game for you. There's no way you can flow as good. He's very important for us.''
Mississippi State has had plenty of success against Arkansas at Humphrey Coliseum, winning the past 11 meetings. After a promising start to SEC play, the Razorbacks have lost four of five games.
''Unfortunately, those other ones don't matter,'' Stansbury said. ''The only thing that matters is the 12th year. It's senior night; it's our next game and last game of the season here. It's an important game. There's a lot of significance. Our guys will be ready.''
