CONNECTCOMMENTEMAILMORE

STARKVILLE – Nine shirtless males stood in the front row of the Mississippi State student section at Humphrey Coliseum on Sunday afternoon. 

In gold lettering with black backgrounds, their torsos said “#GIVE EM HAIL.” That was planned well in advance of Mississippi State’s women’s basketball game against Ole Miss. 

What was written on the boys’ backs was not. 

The numbers eight and 24 alternated from one back to the next across the line. On a day two rivals clashed on the court for the first of two meetings this season, the moment didn’t solely belong to the Magnolia State programs. 

It also belonged to Kobe Bryant. 

Sunday’s score, a 80-39 rout for Mississippi State, was consequential in conference standings and in the grand scheme of this 2019-20 season. No. 9 Mississippi State moved to 18-3 overall and 6-1 in SEC play with the victory. 

But in the world of basketball, the proceedings in the Magnolia State paled in comparison to what occurred in the Golden State just a few hours before MSU and Ole Miss played their game. 

Bryant, 41, and his daughter Gianna, 13, died in a tragic helicopter crash while on their way to a travel basketball game, according to multiple reports. Seven others died in the crash, officials said.

“Couldn’t watch basketball today without honoring him,” one of the students with his body painted said.

Bryant’s No. 24 was honored throughout basketball communities across the country Sunday. Multiple NBA teams started their games with intentional violations of the 24-second shot clock. Though Mississippi State did not honor Bryant in such a way, sophomore center Jessika Carter inadvertently did. 

She scored a game-high 24 points.

Mississippi State and Ole Miss players and coaches spoke about Bryant in postgame press conferences. A 41-point loss suddenly meant a lot less to Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, who said she brought her daughter to the podium with her because Bryant’s death was a “wake up call” and a reminder to hold her loved ones closer. 

“Time is precious,” she said. 

With her child sitting in a chair directly to her right, McPhee-McCuin was asked if she could try to put Bryant’s death into perspective. At first, she couldn’t. She stumbled over a few words before forming a response.

She grew up in the Michael Jordan era, she said, then she watched Kobe and his impact on the game.

“I wanted to be Kobe. Everybody wanted to be Kobe,” McPhee-McCuin said. “It’s surreal.” 

Mississippi State head coach Vic Schaefer talked about Bryant’s death in a pre-game speech. The gist of his message was short but powerful. 

“Life is fleeting, y’all,” he said. “You just can’t take things for granted in today’s world. We’re only guaranteed right now. Today. We’re not guaranteed tomorrow.” 

Schaefer learned of Bryant’s death when he was on his way out of the arena after shootaround early Sunday afternoon. He had a few hours to formulate his speech. His players had a few hours to watch the news and wrap their minds around the death of Bryant, a player many of them grew up watching on TV. 

“It’s definitely heartbreaking,” said MSU senior guard Jordan Danberry, who had eight assists against Ole Miss to match the number Bryant wore in the early years of his career. “It’s a tragedy. We give our prayers and condolences to Kobe Bryant’s family.” 

Schaefer’s son Logan had a wakeboarding accident in 2010, and he was put on life support. Logan survived and is healthy now, but Schaefer sympathized with the Bryant family in the wake of the superstar’s death. Bryant is survived by his wife Vanessa and three daughters Natalia, Bianca and Capri.

“It’s such a tragedy, and it hits on so many fronts,” Schaefer said. “That’s a family that’s just, they’re not here any more.” 

Schaefer snapped his fingers. 

“Like that. You woke up this morning and now you have that. And that’s what I try to tell my kids all the time. I’ve been through that with Logan. In one blink and this is my son on life support… It’s such a tragedy for someone who did so much for our game as a player and an ambassador.” 

Schaefer had one last message on the subject before leaving the room. 

“Appreciate the things you have because man, you just never know when you get that phone call.” 

Contact Tyler Horka at thorka@gannett.com. Follow @tbhorka on Twitter. To read more of Tyler’s work, subscribe to the Clarion Ledger today!

CONNECTCOMMENTEMAILMORE