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<XML_File_ID>6796809</XML_File_ID>
<heading>AEV!PREVIEW-MIAFLA-MISSST</heading>
<game_id>32991</game_id>
<schedule_id>32991</schedule_id>
<category>Previews</category>
<sport>CBASK</sport>
<Game_Date>12/13/2007</Game_Date>
<Game_Time>08:00 PM</Game_Time>
<vteam>Miami-Florida</vteam>
<hteam>Miss State</hteam>
<title>Miami-Florida (8-0) at Mississippi State (5-3)</title>
<date_time> Thursday, December 13th, 8:00 p.m. (et)</date_time>
<facts_stats>
 FACTS &amp; STATS: Site: Humphrey Coliseum (10,500) -- Starkville, Mississippi.
 Television: FSN. Home Record: Miami 4-0, Mississippi State 4-1. Away Record:
 Miami 1-0, Mississippi State 0-0. Neutral Record: Miami 3-0, Mississippi State
 1-2. Conference Record: Miami 0-0, Mississippi State 0-0. Series Record:
 Mississippi State leads, 2-1.
 
</facts_stats>
<game_notes>
<P>
 GAME NOTES: The Miami Hurricanes are 8-0 under fourth-year head coach Frank
 Haith, and they figure to be tested on the road tonight by the Mississippi
 State Bulldogs in a non-league contest. Miami is one of just 15 teams out of
 328 Division I programs that began the week undefeated. The Hurricanes are
 coming off a 67-53 decision over Florida International, and while the schedule
 has been a bit soft thus far, they did knock off Providence and VCU along with
 St. John's. Mississippi State enters tonight's game with a 5-3 record,
 including a 4-1 mark at home. The Bulldogs have won their last two games,
 including an 84-59 romp over Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday. Mississippi
 State owns a 2-1 series lead over Miami, and the Bulldogs crushed the 'Canes a
 year ago in Coral Gables.
 
</P>
<P>
 Miami has achieved outstanding balance at the offensive end of the floor, as
 five players are scoring at least 9.0 ppg. Jack McClinton leads the squad with
 12.2 ppg, and he is shooting a blistering 55.2 percent from three-point range.
 James Dews is close behind with 11.4 ppg on 51.5 percent accuracy from behind
 the arc, and Anthony King is contributing 10.8 ppg and 9.1 rpg. Strong defense
 has been key to the success of the Hurricanes, as they are limiting foes to
 58.5 ppg on 36.2 percent shooting from the field. In Saturday's 14-point
 victory over Florida International, Dews and Dwayne Collins scored 14 points
 apiece, while Jimmy Graham added 10 points. The Hurricanes limited the Golden
 Panthers to 32.3 percent overall shooting in that clash.
 
</P>
<P>
 Mississippi State swingman Jamont Gordon is one of the most underrated players
 in all of college basketball. Overshadowed in the past by more high profile
 players in the SEC, Gordon continues to fill the stat sheet on the strength of
 his tremendous versatility. Averaging 18.4 ppg this season, Gordon is also
 pulling down 6.0 rpg to go along with 30 assists. He gets some help from
 Charles Rhodes, who is scoring 15.9 ppg on 56.4 percent shooting from the
 field to complement his 7.1 rpg. Barry Stewart is posting 10.8 ppg, while Ben
 Hansbrough rounds out a foursome of double-digit scorers with 10.0 ppg. The
 Bulldogs are scoring 72.8 ppg, while allowing 62.8 ppg to the opposition. In
 the romp over Southeastern Louisiana last time out, Gordon poured in 25
 points. MSU offset 21 turnovers by shooting 52.5 percent from the field.
 
</P>
<P>
 Expect Miami to lose its first game tonight, as MSU is a formidable opponent
 that has the advantage of playing at home. The Bulldogs get another big effort
 from Gordon, en route to the win.
 
</P>
</game_notes>
<predicted_outcome>Mississippi State 68, Miami-Florida 63</predicted_outcome>
<time_stamp> December 13, 2007, at 01:31 PM ET </time_stamp>
</message>