Live Hoops Updates: Alabama 99, Mississippi State 67; Final
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 24 Alabama (15-6, 7-1 SEC) will host Mississippi State (14-7, 3-5) tonight at Coleman Coliseum. The SEC matchup will tip off at 7:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
The Crimson Tide enters tonight riding a 13-game winning streak at home against SEC foes, the team’s longest such winning streak since 1988. The Alabama-State matchup features three players ranked in the top 10 in scoring during SEC contests in Alabama’s Mark Sears (No. 3, 21.4 ppg) and Mississippi State’s Tolu Smith and Josh Hubbard (T-No. 10, 16.3 ppg).
Game links: WATCH | LISTEN | STATS
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PREGAME
— Nick Pringle is here, but he’s watching warmups in street clothes.
Nate Oats on Friday: “He’s still not with the team. We’re evaluating it on a day-to-day basis. We’ll see how long it takes if he comes back at some point.”
— Tonight’s officials: Terry Oglesby, Todd Austin and Patrick Evans.
— Alabama starters vs. Miss. State: Mark Sears, Aaron Estrada, Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Rylan Griffen and Grant Nelson.
FIRST HALF
— MSU 8, Alabama 5 (15:50) | After a Rylan Griffen three to open the game, UA is 1 for its last 7, and State has a 5-2 edge on the glass.
— Alabama 16, MSU 14 (10:38) | Mo Wague draws a charge (!) and has been a spark off the bench for the Crimson Tide with four points.
— Alabama 23, MSU 16 (7:48) | The Tide is on an 11-2 run to take its largest lead of the night. After missing four straight FGs, Alabama is 5 for its last 9 from the floor.
— Alabama 34, MSU 22 (3:50) | After starting 5-of-7 from the field, State has made 1 of its last 8 FGs. The Tide is 6-for-22 from 3, but Mark Sears and Jarin Stevenson have combined to go 5-for-6.
SECOND HALF
— Not happy with the flurry of fouls, Nate Oats gets T’d up. 17:13 to go.
— Alabama 53, MSU 28 (15:47) | The Tide with a 6-2 edge on the glass this half, 28-21 for the game. Aaron Estrada leads the team with 7 and is in double-double territory (8 points and 7 rebounds).
Top 10
- 1
Underranked SEC
Lane Kiffin protests CFP rankings
- 2New
Saban chirped
Big 12 comes after GOAT
- 3
DJ Lagway
Fan flashes Florida QB to Pope
- 4Hot
Strength of Schedule
CFP Top 25 SOS ranking
- 5
Alabama needs a prayer
Tide can make the CFP but needs help
— Alabama 65, MSU 33 (13:12) | UA is on a 7-0 run, has made 7 of its last 8. Jarin Stevenson’s fourth 3 of the night sparked the Tide run, and Mo Dioubate’s fastbreak layin forced a timeout from State.
— Alabama 75, MSU 46 (7:49) | Four players in double figures — Estrada (15), Jarin Stevenson (14), Mark Sears (13) and Mo Dioubate (11). Dioubate has a new career-high; Stevenson ties his mark.
— Alabama 88, MSU 60 (3:31) | Mark Sears is now up to 21 points, which marks his 13th 20-point game of the season. Sears has scored 20 or more points in five straight games and 8 of his last 9.
POSTGAME
— Mississippi State’s Tolu Smith: “From start to finish, they just gave us an old-fashioned ass-whooping.”
— Jarin Stevenson said the freshmen sang “Happy Birthday” to Aaron Estrada, who turned 23 today.
“It might have not been the best singing … but it’s nice having him out there crashing the boards.”
— Nate Oats: “We’ve been asking our guys to come out and try to put 40 minutes together. That was the closest we’ve come.”
— Oats on Mo Dioubate, who won the Hard Hat Award tonight: “He’s tough, physical, hard-nosed. I thought he played really well.”
— Oats on Kai Spears, who had 5 points tonight: “He’s a scholarship player now. He better produce.”
— Oats on Jarin Stevenson: “He’s starting to really show what we thought he could be for us.”
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