Posted: 10:28 AM Dec 14, 2012
Reporter: Associated Press

Mississippi State's basketball team had to sneak out of state to play in a 1963 NCAA tournament game against Loyola of Chicago.
The travel itinerary won't be nearly so complicated this time.
Saturday's game between Mississippi State (3-5) and Loyola (6-3) in Chicago will be celebrated as a reminder of the landmark contest between the schools that helped alter race relations on the basketball court.
The all-white Bulldogs had turned down invitations to play in the NCAA tournament in previous seasons because of an unwritten state law that prohibited schools from playing integrated teams, but in 1963, university leaders helped facilitate a secret trip to East Lansing, Mich., to allow Mississippi State a chance to play Loyola.
Loyola beat Mississippi State 61-51 and went on to win the NCAA championship.
AP-WF-12-14-12 1752GMT

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