STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State's Craig Sword and Roquez Johnson combined for 44 points as the Bulldogs held off Loyola 65-64 in overtime Sunday at Humphrey Coliseum.
Sword had a game-high 24 points and put MSU (5-1) in front for good with an old-fashioned three-point play with 1:36 left in overtime. Johnson had a career-best 20 points and also his first double-double of the season with 11 rebounds.
Loyola (3-5) was led by Milton Doyle's 22 points.
MSU and Loyola were tied at 29-29 at halftime despite the Bulldogs shooting 38 percent. Loyola shot 50 percent in the first half and led MSU in rebounding 15-13 but had eight first-half turnovers.
The contest was just the third overall meeting between the two schools with the first game coming in the historic 1963 NCAA Tournament.
