Tourney hopes in balance as Missouri, Mississippi State meet

Mississippi State faces two key challenges this week in its attempt to climb up the Southeastern Conference standings, starting Tuesday night when the Bulldogs take on Missouri in Columbia, Mo.

The Bulldogs (18-9, 6-8 SEC) bounced back from last week's home loss to Kentucky by grinding out a 69-61 overtime win at Ole Miss on Saturday to keep alive their long-shot bid of earning a spot in the 68-team NCAA Tournament field