MISSISSIPPI ST 10, UCF 3 ------------------------ MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Sylvester Croom and Mississippi State are slowly turning things around.

Tailback Anthony Dixon scored the go-ahead touchdown with less than two minutes to play, leading the Bulldogs to a 10-3 victory over Central Florida in the Autozone Liberty Bowl.

Croom entered this season with a 9-25 record at Mississippi State, but led the Bulldogs to wins over then-ranked Alabama and Kentucky en route to the school's first bowl appearance since 2000.

In a defensive struggle, cornerback Keith Fitzhugh's interception of Knights quarterback Kyle Israel set up the lone touchdown of the game.

Fitzhugh picked off a pass on third down and the Bulldogs' offense finally showed some life. Freshman quarterback Wes Carroll ran for 19 yards and threw for 15 on a 10-play, 59-yard drive which was capped by Dixon's plunge from 1 yard out.

Dixon finished the game with 86 yards on 24 carries.

It certainly wasn't a game for the time capsule. The teams combined for just 420 yards and were 6-for-20 on third down conversions.

But the Bulldogs won because their defense played a terrific game. Mississippi State forced four turnovers and held Kevin Smith, the nation's leading rusher, to an average of 3.4 yards per carry.

Smith, who needed 181 yards to break Barry Sanders' all-time single-season mark of 2,628 yards, ran for 119 yards on 35 carries.

Central Florida got on the board first as Michael Torres kicked a 45-yard field goal with 11:55 remaining in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs (8-5) then capitalized on an interception by cornerback Derek Pegues and tied the game at 3-3. Pegues intercepted Israel at the UCF 19-yard line and returned it to the 6-yard line.

However, Mississippi State had to settle for a 22-yard field goal from Adam Carlson which tied the game at 3-3 with 6:02 left in the half.

Central Florida (10-4) twice had a chance to snap the tie, but Torres missed a pair of second-half field goals.

Torres, who had hit 19 of his 21 attempts on the season, missed wide right from 32 yards with 5:34 left in the third. He then missed wide left on a 37-yard attempt with 10:34 remaining in the fourth.

Israel finished the game 10-of-24 for 88 yards and three interceptions, while Carroll was 8-of-18 for 39 yards and a pick.