Alabama basketball has swept Mississippi State and now has won eight straight between the two teams in dominant fashion.
Alabama basketball moved to 12-3 in the SEC with a 111-73 win over Mississippi State at home. It was the Tide’s best game on both sides of the ball all season and the most points they have scored.
That was the first time since Feb. 8 that the Tide had led after the first media timeout, up 6-5.
“I thought our guys did a good job once we dug ourselves a hole. Got to give Kentucky a ton of credit to come out like they did,” said Oats
Alabama had 11 turnovers on the night, with 28 assists, and Mark Sears led the way with 10.
Alabama finished with five scorers in double-figures on the night.
Mouhamed Dioubate led the charge on the glass, finishing with a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds in just 17 minutes of game time.
This is the eighth time the Tide has eclipsed the 100-point mark this season and the most three-pointers the Tide has hit on the season. The Tide finished 22-45 on the game.
Despite missing practice with a shin bruise on Monday, Grant Nelson won the hard hat on just 24 minutes of game time.
Takeaway #1: Mark Sears and Chris Youngblood dominate
Chris Youngblood had 23 points in the first matchup between the two teams and had a big night yet again against the Bulldogs after getting the first shot to fall on a four-point play, and that got him going offensively, finishing the half with 16 points in the half.
Youngblood continued to hit on the catch-and-shoot threes, whether it was off-ball screens or just getting open to beat the zone defense, and finished the game with 27 points on 7-11 shooting from three, and now has scored 50 points between the two matchups.
With his second double-double in the season, Mark Sears is on a roll and continued to play his best basketball all season with another 21-point performance. Sears was distributing the ball at an elite level. Everything seemed to click for the guard, whether on a lob to Clifford Omoruyi or finding Jarin Stevenson in the corner for three.
Takeaway #2: Alabama holds strong on defensive end
Alabama was lockdown from the jump on the defensive end, holding Hubbard to six points on the half, and the Tide were face-guarding him all night to make sure the last game did not happen all over again. The Tide were able to speed up the tempo of the game and forced 14 turnovers.
The Tide changed their pick-and-roll defense on the night, using less drop coverage, more blitzing, and hard hedging on the ball to give up fewer open looks for the Bulldogs’ capable shooters.
The Tide had active hands all night with eight steals, with Sears leading the way with three, which led to 20 points off the turnovers.
“I liked our sense of urgency on the defensive end,” said Oats.
The Bulldogs were held to .750 points per possession in the first half and finished the game, holding the Dawgs to a .986. This was their best performance in all of SEC play, and they look to ride the momentum into March.
Takeaway #3: Keyshawn Murphy and Josh Hubbard carry the Bulldogs
Josh Hubbard struggled in the first half against the Tide but picked it up in the second half, leading the charge with 21 points after scoring 38 points in the first meeting. Hubbard got up 22 shots, hitting eight from the floor, with his 10th 20-plus point performance on the season.
Keshawn Murphy, the Birmingham native, was another bucket off the bench for the Bulldogs with an 18-point 11-rebound double-double and dominated the Tide on the glass with six offensive rebounds.
Despite the 38-point win the Tide only outrebounded the Bulldogs by one 42-41.
Next up for Alabama basketball (23-5, 12-3): at Tennessee (23-5, 10-5) – Mar. 1 at 4 p.m. EST
Next up for Mississippi State basketball (19-9, 7-8): vs. LSU (14-14, 3-12) – Â Mar. 1 at 3:30 p.m. EST