Mississippi can move closer to a top-four finish and the accompanying double-bye in the SEC tournament when it visits rival Mississippi State on Saturday. The Rebels sit in fourth place, one game ahead of Tennessee and one behind Kentucky and Alabama. Ole Miss aims to sweep the Bulldogs for the first time since 1996 and even its SEC road record at 4-4. Currently 55th in the RPI ratings, the Rebels cannot afford to slip up here if they hope to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in coach Andy Kennedy's seven-year tenure.Depleted Mississippi State has lost 13 straight, including Wednesday's 30-point loss at Kentucky. The last-place Bulldogs don't have a single player averaging double figures in scoring. Only one of their last seven losses has come by single digits. In the Feb. 6 meeting in Oxford, Miss., the Bulldogs fell 93-75 despite Jalen Steele's 15 points. TV: 5 p.m. ET, FSN.ABOUT MISSISSIPPI (21-7, 10-5 SEC): The Rebels, who were picked seventh in the conference, have surpassed expectations thanks to SEC leading scorer Marshall Henderson (19.6). The junior college transfer has hit 14 of his last 25 3-point tries and has tied the Ole Miss record for made 3-pointers in a season (111). Henderson has room to operate thanks to the interior duo of seniors Murphy Holloway (14.5 pppg, 9.4 rpg) and Reginald Buckner (9.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg). Ole Miss is 6-6 away from Tad Smith Coliseum.ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (7-20, 2-13 SEC): The Bulldogs are on pace to break the school record for losses in a season set in 1985-86 (8-22). Three players average nearly 10 points per game: Craig Sword (9.8), Steele (9.7) and Fred Thomas (9.6). First-year coach Rick Ray insists he doesn't regret taking the rebuilding job, which was made harder by injuries. But the Bulldogs haven't even been competitive lately. TIP-INS1. The Bulldogs are 91-24 against the Rebels in Starkville, Miss.2. Holloway is the 23rd player in SEC history with at least 1,250 points and 1,000 rebounds.3. Rebels PG Jarvis Summers is averaging 10.5 points in SEC play after averaging 7.1 in non-conference action.PREDICTION: Mississippi 76, Mississippi State 58