Kentucky mens basketball defeated Mississippi State 71-68 in Starkville, snapping a recent losing streak that began with Arkansas on Feb. 7.
The Wildcats entered the matchup after suffering a road loss in Athens against Georgia, with the Bulldogs coming out on top 75-68 to avenge their loss on Jan. 17 inside Rupp Arena.
The loss to the Bulldogs saw Kentucky completely drop out of ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi’s “bracketology,” putting the Cats as the first team out of the field of 68 to get into the NCAA Tournament.
Desperate for significant wins to get back into the field, the Cats were presented with a significant opportunity, facing off against Mississippi State in Starkville, with a potential win over the Bulldogs counting as a quadrant-1 opportunity.