[3/13/04]ATLANTA As the pass from Timmy Bowers slipped through Branden Vincent’s fingers, it took with it Mississippi State’s SEC championship hopes and a shot at a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

Bowers committed two turnovers in the final minute of overtime as the Bulldogs (25-3) fell to the East’s fourth-seed, Vanderbilt, 74-70, at the Georgia Dome.

“We probably made it a little easier on the committee now as far as a No. 1 seed or a 2 seed,” said Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury of the NCAA Tournament selection day on Sunday. “We’ll be very happy with a No. 2 seed.”

With MSU trailing 71-70 with 51 seconds to play in overtime, MSU’s Shane Power intercepted a pass and passed to Bowers streaking toward the basket. Bowers, though, tried one more pass which was intercepted by Vandy sophomore Mario Moore.

“Coach had been talking to us all night about getting back in transition,” said Moore, who had two steals and 17 points. “I just had to get back as fast as I could. Luckily he threw it to me and we got another possession.”

Moore was fouled and converted one of two free throws for a 72-70 lead with 36 seconds to play.

On the next trip, Bowers again turned the ball over on an attempted bullet pass to Vincent. Corey Smith was fouled and hit both free throws for a 74-70 Vanderbilt lead and the victory.

In addition to Moore’s 17, Julian Terrell came off the bench to score 16, Matt Freije and Russell Lakey each scored 13, and Smith added 12.

Power led four Bulldogs in double figures with 16 points, Winsome Frazier scored 15, Bowers netted 14, and Roberts had 13.

“We didn’t shoot the ball particularly well tonight, but neither did they,” Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said. “I thought coming into the game we needed to shoot the ball well to win, but I didn’t know they would have an off-night shooting as well.”

While State has a week off to prepare for a trip to one of eight regional sites, Vanderbilt (21-8) virtually assured itself of a tournament berth.

“The thing that makes me the happiest is how this team came together to get here,” Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said. “I don’t think a lot of people last March would have given us a chance to be standing here.”

The loss may turn into a blessing for the Bulldogs.

In the second half, Roberts severely twisted his ankle with 13 minutes, 59 seconds to play in the second half. The SEC Player of the Year was helped off the floor and taken to the dressing room before returning two minutes later.

He grimaced every time he landed on the gimpy right ankle and had only four points in the final 11 minutes of the game.

“When he first went down, I thought Lawrence was out for good,” Stansbury said. “When he did come back, I didn’t think he was the same. He made some plays, but he rebounded the ball like three times the rest of the way.”

Mississippi State, with a partisan maroon and white presence in the Georgia Dome, led 34-28 at halftime, and opened the second half on a 7-2 run to take a 41-30 lead.

A Corey Smith 3-pointer, then back-to-back steals by sophomore guard Mario Moore led to two more quick baskets to cut the deficit to four in just over a minute.

The lead volleyed back and forth the rest of regulation with neither team holding more than a five-point lead the rest of the way.

Mississippi State had a chance to win the game in regulation after Vanderbilt’s Matt Freije tied it at 65 on a free throw with 35 seconds to play.

The Bulldogs called timeout, but never set up a play. Roberts’ 3-point attempt as the buzzer sounded bounced off the rim.

“We have to put this one behind us,” Stansbury said. “We have to focus on wherever we go and whoever we play on Thursday or Friday.

“This season is over, we just have to come back for our next season. I believe we will.”