MISSISSIPPI ST. TO FACE CATS IN SEC TITLE GAME

Mississippi St. 62, No. 20 Vanderbilt 52

Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Barry Stewart scored 14 points and Mississippi State advanced to its second consecutive Southeastern Conference tournament championship game with a 62-52 win over No. 20 Vanderbilt on Saturday.

The Bulldogs (23-10) face a Kentucky team returning to the championship game for the first time since 2004.

Dee Bost, Phil Turner and Jarvis Varnado each added 11 for Mississippi State, which won four straight games in the 2009 tournament for its first title in seven seasons. The Bulldogs received a first-round bye this time after sharing the SEC West Division crown with Mississippi, a team they beat twice this season.

Jermaine Beal scored 11 for Vanderbilt (24-, which was hoping to reach the SEC tournament championship game for only the second time.

They are TOAST.