Connect with us

Mississippi

Why seniors are crucial for Sam Purcell to stop Mississippi State basketball’s spiral

Published

on

Why seniors are crucial for Sam Purcell to stop Mississippi State basketball’s spiral


AUBURN, Ala. — Roaming on one end of the Neville Arena court was Auburn women’s basketball coach Johnnie Harris. Her team is on the NCAA Tournament bubble in the final week of the regular season, but the Tigers didn’t look like a fringe team on Thursday.

Auburn (18-10, 7-8 SEC) looked like a program worthy of an at-large bid. It looked like a team finding momentum at the right time with only the leap day delaying the arrival of March.

“I know this game was big going for our goals,” Harris said. “We knew we had to get this one. Our kids were locked in from the beginning.

Advertisement

On the other end, Mississippi State coach Sam Purcell was pacing the sideline looking for answers. His Bulldogs (20-10, 7-8) seemed like a lock for March Madness a couple weeks ago when they were riding a five-game winning streak – highlighted by a victory against defending champion LSU.

But Thursday, MSU looked like the team carrying an uncertain future. With a 77-60 loss against the Tigers, the Bulldogs have dropped five straight. They’re playing their worst basketball – turning it over 17 times and allowing 18 offensive boards – at a time where a team should be finding momentum.

“We’re not making enough winning plays right now,” Purcell said.

Both coaches know what it takes to succeed in the postseason – specifically at Mississippi State. Harris was an assistant under Vic Schaefer (2012-2020) and helped lead MSU to back-to-back national title game appearances. Purcell was an assistant at Louisville (2013-2022) and helped lead the Cardinals to multiple Final Four trips.

Advertisement

As head coaches, they’re leading teams headed in opposite directions of the SEC standings. Auburn’s rise has come by capitalizing on chances against struggling conference foes such as Missouri and Kentucky. Mississippi State’s skid has featured losses against UK and Florida.

Harris and Purcell knows the importance of finding momentum going into postseason play. For Mississippi State, Sunday (2 p.m., SEC Network+) against Mizzou is the last chance to do so before win-or-go-home games begin.

“Let’s have a special night because it’s been a special group,” Purcell said. “Let’s just funnel that energy in a positive mindset. Let’s finish this off, and then we’ll talk about all that other stuff later.”

MEN’S HOOPS: Mississippi State basketball’s Josh Hubbard sends respect Kentucky guard’s way after thriller

Advertisement

While Mississippi State isn’t in a position it aimed for, Sunday will be a fitting representation of what could get the team back on the right path. MSU relies heavily on its seniors – whether it be those in their last season of eligibility such as Jessika Carter, Lauren Park-Lane and Erynn Barnum or a true senior with choices to make such as Jerkaila Jordan.

Auburn appears to be trending toward its first at-large bid since 2019. Sixth-year senior Honesty Scott-Grayson is a big reason why, scoring a career-high 32 points against the Bulldogs in her final home game.

Mississippi State may need a similar signature performance at Humphrey Coliseum to maintain its NCAA Tournament hopes.

“We’ve got to go home and not get kept up in the skid – but most importantly, send the seniors out right,” Purcell said.

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @skrajisnik3.

Advertisement





Source link

Mississippi

Governor: At least 47 homes, 50 roads damaged by Mississippi storms, flooding – SuperTalk Mississippi

Published

on

Governor: At least 47 homes, 50 roads damaged by Mississippi storms, flooding – SuperTalk Mississippi


Gov. Tate Reeves has released updated damage assessments following the severe weather and flooding that inundated parts of southern Mississippi last week.

According to Reeves, assessments through the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency are ongoing, and disaster aid is still being distributed through a mix of federal, state, and local agencies, along with nonprofits. But numbers as of Monday morning showed dozens of homes and businesses damaged and even more public roads affected.

cspire 2025

Among the counties with significant impacts are Covington, Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Jackson, Pearl River, Perry and Stone. Across those counties and others, at least 47 homes were affected, seven of which were completely destroyed. Nine businesses sustained damaged, six of which are considered major. One farm sustained major damage.

A Harrison County roadway is flooded by the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Hunter Dawkins/The Gazebo Gazette via SuperTalk Mississippi News)

50 public roadways were affected, including four that are considered major and four that were completely destroyed. Two bridges sustained major damage, while two public buildings sustained minor damage.

Reeves said two rivers are in the moderate flood stage – Leaf River near McClain and the Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry.

15 other waterways are in the minor flood stage: Big Black River near Bentonia, Biloxi River near Lyman, Chickasawhay River at Enterprise, Chickasawhay River at Leakesville, East Hobolochitto Creek near Caesar, Pascagoula River at Merrill, Pearl River at Jackson, Pearl River near Pearl River, Pearl River near Philadelphia, Pearl River at Rockport, Strong River at D’Lo, Tallahala Creek at Laurel, Tuscolameta Creek at Laurel, West Hobolochitto Creek near McNeill, and Wolf River around Gulfport.

Advertisement
A sinkhole caused by flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur is seen in Covington County on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo courtesy of the Covington County Emergency Management Agency)

Damage reports could have worsened on Monday with additional rounds of severe weather in some parts of the state. The worst of the storms and floods came with the remnants of what was Tropical Storm Arthur late last week and into the weekend.



Source link

Continue Reading

Mississippi

Family of 1-year-old killed by police at a Walmart in Mississippi wants video released

Published

on

Family of 1-year-old killed by police at a Walmart in Mississippi wants video released


(AP) – A Mississippi family whose 1-year-old child was killed when police fired into a moving vehicle said Monday they want authorities to release video showing whether officers were in danger of being struck when one of them opened fire.

The shooting has sparked outrage in the small city of Senatobia, where some say it’s the latest in a series of troubling encounters between police and Black residents.

Kohen Wiley was riding with his mother and another woman in a Walmart parking lot on June 14 when police responded to a shoplifting call. The family says they were driving away, while the officers say the car was heading toward them.

This undated photo provided by Veronica Roberson in June 2026 shows her grandson, Kohen Wiley, of Senatobia, Miss.(Veronica Roberson | Veronica Roberson via AP)

“I watched my baby take his first breath, and I watched my baby take his last breath,” Vellesiya Wiley said at a news conference Monday.

Advertisement

The other woman in the car, whose name has not been released, suffered “critical injuries,” according to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, which is handling the inquiry.

Standing alongside Kohen’s parents and grandparents at a local church, civil rights attorney Ben Crump told reporters Monday that the best way to determine whether the officers were at risk is to publicly release any body camera, dash camera or Walmart security camera video.

“If that is the truth, then show us that,” Crump said. “The longer you delay releasing the video, the more distrustful we become.”

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation declined to comment on what videos investigators have or whether they would be released, agency spokesperson Bailey Martin said Monday.

“This case has been made a top priority,” Martin said in an emailed statement, “and we currently have multiple agents working tirelessly to ensure every aspect of the investigation is thoroughly examined.”

Advertisement

The agency says the officers weren’t hurt. Senatobia Police Chief Harold Vanderford did not return a phone message seeking comment Monday.

State investigators gave an initial account of the shooting last week, saying that when Senatobia police arrived at the Walmart, they found two women and a child getting into a car and driving away.

“Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver drove in the direction of the officers, almost striking one. An officer then discharged their weapon and the vehicle fled the scene,” the agency statement said.

Kohen’s mother has said the shoplifting call was over a box of diapers that her friend was carrying — and that she believes her friend had paid for the diapers. State investigators declined to comment on those details.

Crump questioned why police didn’t let the car go and take down the license plate number.

Advertisement

“They were called over a box of diapers and a family now has to bury their baby,” Crump said Monday. “You cannot put those two things next to each other and call it reasonable policing.”

Crump also said an independent autopsy would be performed.

While there’s no question the child was shot by police, he said, details about the angles at which any bullets struck the child could yield clues as to whether the officer fired from in front of the car or off to the side — and therefore whether that officer was in any danger.

Policing expert Ian Adams, who teaches criminal justice at the University of South Carolina, told The Associated Press last week that police should know that “shooting into a moving vehicle is a very bad idea and one to be avoided at almost all costs,” noting the danger to passengers and other bystanders.

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Mississippi

Mississippi Association of Coaches Inducts Six New Members

Published

on

Mississippi Association of Coaches Inducts Six New Members


Six new members were inducted into the Mississippi Association Coaches Hall of Fame on Friday.

Five electees and one surprise honorary inductee announced at the evening’s end.

Each says the MAC HOF is a special one and this is the ultimate honor for a coach in Mississippi.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending