Alabama defeats Mississippi St 82-97
Alabama Outlasts Mississippi St in Thrilling 97-82 Win
HUMPHREY COLISEUM - In a highly anticipated conference matchup, the University of Alabama men's basketball team emerged victorious over Mississippi State, defeating the Bulldogs 97-82 on Wednesday evening.
The game was a back-and-forth affair from the opening tip, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a significant advantage in the first half. Alabama led by as few as two points at halftime, but the Crimson Tide continued to pull away behind the hot shooting of Labaron Philon Jr.
Philon Jr., who finished with 32 points on 11-15 shooting (71.4%), was instrumental in Alabama's comeback victory. The sophomore guard's ability to score from both inside and outside the arc proved to be a key factor in the Crimson Tide's success.
Meanwhile, Josh Hubbard led Mississippi State with 23 points, while Quincy Ballard added 17 rebounds and 6 points off the bench. Despite a strong effort from his teammates, Hubbard was unable to match Philon Jr.'s scoring prowess.
The final margin of victory was 15 points, with Alabama's largest lead coming at one point in the second half when they held a 22-point advantage. The Crimson Tide's defense played a crucial role in securing the win, holding Mississippi State to just 32.0% shooting from three-point range.
In terms of advanced statistics, both teams performed well on the glass and from the free throw line. Alabama rebounded at a 21.3% rate, while Mississippi State held a slight edge in that department as well (34.9%). The Crimson Tide also shot an impressive 82.0% from the free throw line, compared to the Bulldogs' 68.0%.
The win marks Alabama's fifth consecutive victory and cements their position as a top contender in the Southeastern Conference.
Game Stats:
Mississippi St (HOME):
* Field Goals: 28/76 (37.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 19/48 (39.6%)
* 3-Point FG: 9/28 (32.0%)
* Free Throws: 17/25 (68.0%)
* Rebounds: 43
* Assists: 10
* Turnovers: 4
* Steals: 5
* Blocks: 6
Alabama (AWAY):
* Field Goals: 29/66 (44.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 17/32 (53.1%)
* 3-Point FG: 12/34 (35.0%)
* Free Throws: 27/33 (82.0%)
* Rebounds: 47
* Assists: 14
* Turnovers: 5
* Steals: 4
* Blocks: 4