NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Cameron Matthews and Josh Hubbard each scored 18 points and ninth-seeded Mississippi State dominated fifth-ranked Tennessee 73-56 Friday in the Southeastern Conference tournament quarterfinals.
This victory should push the Bulldogs (21-12) firmly off the NCAA tournament bubble with their second win over No. 1 seed Tennessee this season. They will play the winner of No. 15 South Carolina and No. 12 Auburn in the semifinals Saturday, their first semifinal since winning this event in 2009.
Mississippi State, which ended the regular season on a four-game skid, never trailed against the SEC's top seed with the Vols managing one tie at 2-2.