The 17th ranked Alabama Crimson Tide hosted the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Wednesday night in Coleman Coliseum. The Tide used a barrage of first half three pointers to bury the Bulldogs early, and coasted to the easy victory by a score of 100-75. Bama lit up the scoreboard with 66 points in the first half. The Tide was without All-American point guard Labaron Philon in the contest. The win was Bama’s seventh straight win and improved to 21-7 overall and 11-4 in the SEC. MSU fell to 13-15 and 5-15 in conference play.
Coach Nate Oats used a starting lineup of Aden Holloway, Latrell Wrightsell, Amari Allen, London Jemison, Aiden Sherrell, Oats 13th different starting quintet of the season. The Tide was sizzling right out of the gate, getting three pointers from Jemison, Allen twice, Holloway, and Sherrell to take an early 15-2. To be honest, at that point the game was over. Taylor Bol Bowen and Houston Mallette both entered the game and dialed log distance and the Tide led 22-6 with 13:30 left in the half. Allen was unconscious, and when he hit his fourth of the half Bama led 44-20 with 7:35 remaining. Mallette, Jemison, Holloway, and Wrightsell connected from deep and Alabama led 63-33 at the break.
In the first half Bama shot 20-34 for 59%, 16-27 from three for 59%, and 7-9 at the free throw line for 78%. The Tide had 26 rebounds, 14 assists, one block, two steals, and seven turnovers. Allen led the way with 18 points on 6-6 shooting, including 5-5 from three point range. Holloway added 14 points with six assists and four rebounds. Wrightsell added eight points with six rebounds and four assists. Sherrell scored six and grabbed four rebounds. Defensively Bama did a great job on Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard holding him to three points. A combination of Holloway, Wrightsell, and Jalil Bethea did a great job of denying the Dog’s star the ball.
MSU shot 12-37 for 32%, 8-22 from deep for 36% and 1-4 at the charity stripe. The Bulldogs had 15 rebounds, six offensively, with seven assists, one block, one steal, and five turnovers. Ja’Borri McGhee led with five points while Achor Achor and Jayden Epps both scored five.
The Tide used the same starters for the second half. Wrightsell, twice, Allen and Sherrell, each hit early three pointers to build the lead ro 72-37 with 16:40 left in the half. An alley-oop from Allen to Bol Bowen pushed it to 79-40 at the 14:26 mark. Then the Tide went cold, missing shots, and turning the ball over without getting a shot off. After a three plus minute drought Bol Bowen scored a basket for an 86-65 lead. Oats was called for a technical foul after Bol Bowen’s put back. Hubbard missed both technical free throws. Bethea made a three pointer from the corner for a 91-65 lead with 3:27 left and give the Tide hope of reaching the century mark for the eighth time this season. Wrightsell made two free throws, Mallette made a corner three, and Jemison made a follow up basket to give the Tide their 100.
Alabama cooled off to 14-37 from the field for 38% in the second half, including just 6-23 from three, and made 3-4 free throws. Overall Bama finished 34-71 for 48%, 22-50 for 44% from deep, and 10-13 for 77% on free shots. The Tide grabbed 48 rebounds with 15 on the offensive end, dished out 23 assists, had six steals, one block, and 13 turnovers. Allen had 23 points with five rebounds, two assists and a steal, shooting 6-7 from three point range. Wrightsell scored 18 points with six rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Holloway contributed a double-double with 16 points with 10 assists, and added seven rebounds. Sherrell had another strong game with 11 points and six rebounds. Taylor Bol Bowen seems to be healed from his injury, being extremely active while scoring 10 points with six rebounds, a block, and a steal. Mallette scored nine and gathered six rebounds and Jemison won the hard hat, scoring eight, with five rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
MSU shot 15-34 in the second half, including 7-19 from three while making 5-8 free throws. Overall the Dogs finished 27-71 for 38%, 15-41 from three point range for 37%, and 6-12 free throws. The Bulldogs had 36 rebounds, 15 assists, four blocks, eight steals, and committed 12 turnovers. Achor led the way with 18 points, seven rebounds, a block, and a steal. King Grace was next with 13 and Hubbard was held to 11 on 4-13 shooting, after torching Auburn for 46 on Saturday.
The Tide just keep on keeping on. Seven wins in a row in the SEC is never easy. Bama is averaging 98 points a game during the streak. The 22 made three pointers is tied for the second most in an SEC matchup in history. The record is 23 by Alabama in 2021 vs LSU. Next is Alabama vs Auburn in 2020 with 22, Alabama vs MSU in 2025 with 22, and tonight vs MSU with 22 again. Bama has now made 10 or more three pointers in nine straight games and have scored 90 or more points in 19 games this season. In Alabama basketball history the Tide has scored 100 or more points 106 times, with 38 of those coming under Oats during his seven year tenure. Times are good for Alabama basketball during this era.
