STARKVILLE, Miss., - Mississippi State did not take their first lead until under two minutes left in the game but it was enough to lift the Bulldogs past two-time defending NAIA National Champion Oklahoma City 67-65 on Saturday.

Ravern Johnson's 3-pointer with 1:41 remaining put MSU on top for the first time all afternoon and carried them to victory.

"I knew that we were down and Dee (Bost) penetrated and I got open and knew I had to hit that shot because I was wide open," Johnson said. "I knew if we had any chance of winning, I had to knock that shot down."

The Bulldogs looked to be without a spark offensively until Oklahoma City head coach Kevin Morrissey was given a technical foul during a timeout with just over three minutes left with his team up 63-56.

Barry Stewart knocked down both free throws for State, starting an 11-2 run to close out the game.

"That was without a doubt the turning point in the game," Morrissey said. "I told my guys that was my fault completely. I take full responsibility that I did not maintain my composure. I was a little flabbergasted at the call that late in the game."

The Bulldogs shot 34.2-percent from the field during the game including 32-percent from 3-point land and 52.9-percent from the free throw line.



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