In a dominant display on their home court, the 17th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide overwhelmed the Mississippi State Bulldogs with a barrage of three-pointers, cruising to a 100-75 victory at Coleman Coliseum. Alabama's offensive fireworks were on full display as they racked up 66 points in the first half alone, despite missing their All-American point guard, Labaron Philon. This win marks the Tide's seventh consecutive victory, pushing their record to 21-7 overall and 11-4 in SEC play, while Mississippi State dropped to 13-15 and 5-15 in the conference.
Coach Nate Oats rolled out his 13th different starting lineup of the season, featuring Aden Holloway, Latrell Wrightsell, Amari Allen, London Jemison, and Aiden Sherrell. The strategy paid off immediately, as Alabama's sharpshooters caught fire from beyond the arc.
Jemison, Allen, Holloway, and Sherrell all connected early, propelling the Tide to a commanding 15-2 start. By the time Taylor Bol Bowen and Houston Mallette joined the three-point party, Alabama had surged to a 22-6 lead with over 13 minutes left in the half.
Amari Allen was unstoppable, hitting four first-half threes to put Alabama up 44-20. The Tide's relentless shooting continued with contributions from Mallette, Jemison, Holloway, and Wrightsell, giving them a 63-33 advantage at halftime.
Alabama's first-half stats were nothing short of impressive: shooting 59% from the field, including 59% from three-point range, and 78% from the free-throw line. Allen led with 18 points, a perfect 5-5 from deep, while Holloway added 14 points, six assists, and four rebounds.
Defensively, Alabama clamped down on Mississippi State's star, Josh Hubbard, holding him to just three points. The combined efforts of Holloway, Wrightsell, and Jalil Bethea were key in stifling Hubbard's offensive impact.
Mississippi State struggled to find their rhythm, shooting only 32% in the first half and managing just one free throw. Ja’Borri McGhee, Achor Achor, and Jayden Epps each contributed five points, but it wasn't enough to keep pace with Alabama's explosive offense.
The second half saw Alabama continue to build on their lead. Wrightsell, Allen, and Sherrell hit early threes, extending the margin to 72-37.
Even when the Tide went through a brief scoring drought, their lead was never in jeopardy. Bol Bowen's basket broke the dry spell, and Bethea's corner three-pointer kept the momentum going.
Alabama reached the century mark for the eighth time this season, thanks to late contributions from Wrightsell, Mallette, and Jemison.
Alabama's shooting cooled slightly in the second half, but they still finished the game with impressive numbers: 48% overall from the field, 44% from three, and 77% from the line. Allen ended with 23 points, while Wrightsell added 18, and Holloway recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 assists. Sherrell, Bol Bowen, and Mallette also made significant contributions, showcasing Alabama's depth and versatility.
Mississippi State showed some fight, improving their shooting in the second half, but the deficit was too large to overcome. Achor led the Bulldogs with 18 points, while King Grace and Hubbard added 13 and 11, respectively.
Alabama's current form is nothing short of spectacular. Averaging 98 points per game during their winning streak, they've consistently showcased their offensive prowess.
Their 22 made three-pointers tied for the second-most in SEC history, a testament to their shooting capabilities. With 10 or more threes in nine straight games and scoring 90 or more points in 19 games this season, Coach Oats has this Alabama team firing on all cylinders.
The Tide's performance is a thrilling chapter in the program's storied history, and fans have every reason to be excited about what's to come.