How about them Jags? Southern basketball pulls off big upset at Mississippi State, 76-72

STARKVILLE, Mississippi — Southern pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the early days of the college basketball season when it beat Mississippi State 76-72 Monday night in Humphrey Coliseum.

“One of the biggest wins in program history,” coach Roman Banks said.

It was the Jaguars’ second victory against a Southeastern Conference team in Banks’ five seasons. Southern beat Texas A&M 53-51 on Dec. 22, 2012, in College Station, Texas.

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That team, Banks’ second, went on to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament and flirted with an upset of No. 1-seeded Gonzaga before losing 64-58 in the NCAA tournament.

“That season put a spotlight on where the program was headed,” Banks said. But the past two seasons the Jaguars were ineligible for postseason play because of NCAA probation, which was lifted in May.

“This victory creates excitement for recruiting again,” Banks said. “But we can’t let one game get in the way of our focus. We want to play consistent and continue to win.”

So far this season, which began Friday, the SWAC has five upsets, claiming victories over squads from the Atlantic Coast Conference, Conference USA, SEC and the Western Athletic Conference.

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