Mississippi State basketball vs. No. 5 Auburn: Live score updates
The chances are already slim, but Mississippi State basketball could strengthen its NCAA Tournament resume — if only incrementally — with a matchup against one of the top teams in the country.
A win against No. 5 Auburn at Humphrey Coliseum on Wednesday (8 p.m., SEC Network) doesn't guarantee entry into March Madness, not after a loss on the road to South Carolina and a recent losing stretch that involved six defeats in seven games.
The Tigers (25-4, 13-3 SEC) are coming off a loss to No. 13 Tennessee, their second defeat in three games. Mississippi State (17-12, 8-8) could match up well down low, although coach Ben Howland said forward Walker Kessler is the best shot blocker in the country.
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Kessler, who averages a nation-high 4.66 blocked shots per game, is deserving of the national defensive player of the year award, Howland said. His presence in the lane will complicate matters for guard Iverson Molinar, let alone forwards Garrison Brooks and Tolu Smith.
Smith, who has battled several injuries this season, is looking more like the full-health version of himself. Smith scored a season-high 22 points last week against Vanderbilt. Guard Rocket Watts, however, will miss the Auburn and Texas A&M games — his seventh straight absence — due to sprained ligaments in his elbow.
Follow along for live updates between Mississippi State and Auburn.
Mississippi State basketball vs. No. 5 Auburn: Live score updates
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State basketball vs. No. 5 Auburn: Live score updates
