No. 24 Alabama beats Mississippi State 99-67, maintains top spot in the SEC standings
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) Mark Sears scored 21 points and No. 24 Alabama maintained its spot atop the Southeastern Conference standings with a 99-67 win over Mississippi State on Saturday night.
Aaron Estrada scored 15 points and Mouhamed Dioubate and Jarin Stevenson each scored 14 for Alabama (16-6, 8-1). Stevenson, a freshman, showed plenty of improvement, shooting 4 for 6 from long distance after not scoring more than seven points in each of his first eight conference games.
Dioubate added eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks, while Estrada had eight rebounds and three assists.
“We’ve been trying to put 40 minutes on both sides of the ball together, and that’s as close as we’ve come,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said.
Tolu Smith III had 23 points and five rebounds for Mississippi State (14-8, 3-6). Shakeel Moore scored 10 points and Shawn Jones Jr. 10.
The Bulldogs struggled from 3-point range, going 4 for 16, and committed 18 turnovers. Mississippi State had an especially poor first half, shooting 32% and going 0 for 7 from 3-point range. Those struggles allowed Alabama to build a 23-point lead by halftime.
“(Turnovers have) definitely become an Achilles heel for us,” Mississippi State coach Chris Jans said. “We’ve had a couple of games where we’ve kept the number satisfactory, but unfortunately, when things start going off the rails, that’s usually an area that we can point to that has given us problems. And the league is so dynamic and athletic that when you turn that thing over, more often than not when it’s a live ball turnover, it changes the tenor of a game.”
REBOUND IN REBOUNDING
Alabama was dramatically outrebounded by Georgia in narrowly avoiding a loss in its last game, losing that battle 39-26. Alabama answered a call from Oats, outrebounding Mississippi State 48-37.
“I thought we were a little soft at Georgia on rebounds, I think they answered that pretty well,” Oats said.
Alabama was particularly strong on the offensive glass, grabbing 20 offensive rebounds compared to 26 defensive rebounds by Mississippi State.
“Twenty offensive rebounds, we’re not going to win games like that,” Smith said.
BIG PICTURE
Sears strengthened his case for SEC Player of the Year in a heated race with Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht, among others. Sears added four rebounds, three assists and two steals to his 21 points, made all six of his free throws and had a couple of flashy passes.
Sears has scored at least 20 points in all but one of Alabama’s nine SEC games and had multiple steals in six of those nine games.
UP NEXT
Alabama: Travel to Auburn on Wednesday. Alabama beat the Tigers at home on 79-75 on Jan. 24.
Mississippi State: The Bulldogs host Georgia, mired in a three-game losing streak, on Wednesday.
---
Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here.
---
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Tolu Smith III vs. Grant Nelson (Mark Sears gains possession) | |||
19:41 | +3 | Rylan Griffen makes three point jump shot (Grant Nelson assists) | 0-3 | |
19:18 | +2 | Tolu Smith III makes two point layup | 2-3 | |
19:01 | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | |||
18:59 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. offensive rebound | |||
18:48 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
18:46 | Shakeel Moore defensive rebound | |||
18:31 | Tolu Smith III misses two point layup | |||
18:29 | Grant Nelson defensive rebound | |||
18:17 | Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot | |||
18:15 | Josh Hubbard defensive rebound | |||
18:13 | Josh Hubbard turnover (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. steals) | |||
18:09 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
18:07 | D.J. Jeffries defensive rebound | |||
17:40 | +2 | Josh Hubbard makes two point layup | 4-3 | |
17:22 | +2 | Rylan Griffen makes two point jump shot | 4-5 | |
16:56 | +2 | Tolu Smith III makes two point jump shot | 6-5 | |
16:35 | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | |||
16:33 | Tolu Smith III defensive rebound | |||
16:07 | Rylan Griffen shooting foul (Josh Hubbard draws the foul) | |||
16:07 | +1 | Josh Hubbard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 7-5 | |
16:07 | +1 | Josh Hubbard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 8-5 | |
15:54 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
15:52 | Aaron Estrada offensive rebound | |||
15:51 | Aaron Estrada turnover | |||
15:50 | TV timeout | |||
15:34 | Dashawn Davis turnover (Mohamed Wague steals) | |||
15:30 | +2 | Mohamed Wague makes two point dunk | 8-7 | |
15:12 | Tolu Smith III turnover (Mark Sears steals) | |||
15:04 | +3 | Jarin Stevenson makes three point jump shot (Sam Walters assists) | 8-10 | |
14:46 | Mohamed Wague personal foul | |||
14:35 | +2 | Cameron Matthews makes two point layup | 10-10 | |
14:35 | Sam Walters shooting foul (Cameron Matthews draws the foul) | |||
14:35 | Cameron Matthews misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
14:35 | Sam Walters defensive rebound | |||
14:16 | +2 | Mohamed Wague makes two point layup (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. assists) | 10-12 | |
13:47 | Shawn Jones Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
13:45 | Mohamed Wague defensive rebound | |||
13:38 | Sam Walters misses three point jump shot | |||
13:36 | Shawn Jones Jr. defensive rebound | |||
13:29 | Jimmy Bell Jr. offensive foul | |||
13:29 | Jimmy Bell Jr. turnover (offensive foul) | |||
13:04 | Jarin Stevenson turnover (Cameron Matthews steals) | |||
12:55 | Grant Nelson personal foul | |||
12:50 | +2 | Jimmy Bell Jr. makes two point jump shot (Dashawn Davis assists) | 12-12 | |
12:29 | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | |||
12:28 | Grant Nelson offensive rebound | |||
12:28 | Dashawn Davis personal foul | |||
12:25 | Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot | |||
12:24 | D.J. Jeffries defensive rebound | |||
12:24 | Grant Nelson personal foul | |||
11:59 | Mohamed Wague blocks Jimmy Bell Jr.'s two point jump shot | |||
11:55 | Shawn Jones Jr. offensive rebound | |||
11:48 | Shawn Jones Jr. misses two point layup | |||
11:48 | D.J. Jeffries offensive rebound | |||
11:45 | +2 | Jimmy Bell Jr. makes two point layup (D.J. Jeffries assists) | 14-12 | |
11:40 | Mohamed Wague misses three point jump shot | |||
11:40 | Mouhamed Dioubate offensive rebound | |||
11:35 | +2 | Mouhamed Dioubate makes two point layup | 14-14 | |
10:56 | Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot | |||
10:56 | Mark Sears defensive rebound | |||
10:56 | Mouhamed Dioubate misses three point jump shot | |||
10:56 | Aaron Estrada offensive rebound | |||
10:56 | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point layup | 14-16 | |
10:38 | Jimmy Bell Jr. offensive foul | |||
10:38 | Jimmy Bell Jr. turnover (offensive foul) | |||
10:38 | TV timeout | |||
10:22 | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | |||
10:20 | Bulldogs defensive rebound | |||
9:54 | Tolu Smith III misses two point layup | |||
9:52 | Mohamed Wague defensive rebound | |||
9:40 | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point jump shot | 14-18 | |
9:29 | +2 | Tolu Smith III makes two point layup (Shakeel Moore assists) | 16-18 | |
9:18 | Mouhamed Dioubate misses two point layup | |||
9:16 | Bulldogs defensive rebound | |||
9:03 | Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot | |||
9:01 | Aaron Estrada defensive rebound | |||
8:53 | +3 | Mark Sears makes three point jump shot (Aaron Estrada assists) | 16-21 | |
8:35 | Tolu Smith III misses two point layup | |||
8:33 | Tolu Smith III offensive rebound | |||
8:32 | Tolu Smith III turnover (Rylan Griffen steals) | |||
8:27 | +2 | Grant Nelson makes two point dunk (Mark Sears assists) | 16-23 | |
8:12 | Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot | |||
8:12 | Aaron Estrada defensive rebound | |||
8:12 | Tolu Smith III personal foul | |||
7:50 | Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot | |||
7:48 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. offensive rebound | |||
7:48 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. offensive foul | |||
7:48 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. turnover (offensive foul) | |||
7:48 | TV timeout | |||
7:18 | Mouhamed Dioubate blocks Shakeel Moore's three point jump shot | |||
7:17 | Shakeel Moore offensive rebound | |||
7:17 | Bulldogs turnover | |||
6:59 | +3 | Jarin Stevenson makes three point jump shot (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. assists) | 16-26 | |
6:47 | Mark Sears shooting foul (Tolu Smith III draws the foul) | |||
6:47 | +1 | Tolu Smith III makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 17-26 | |
6:47 | +1 | Tolu Smith III makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-26 | |
6:34 | Mohamed Wague offensive foul | |||
6:34 | Mohamed Wague turnover (offensive foul) | |||
6:26 | Josh Hubbard turnover (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. steals) | |||
6:20 | Sam Walters misses three point jump shot | |||
6:18 | Shakeel Moore defensive rebound | |||
6:09 | Shawn Jones Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
6:07 | Sam Walters defensive rebound | |||
5:59 | Mark Sears misses three point jump shot | |||
5:57 | Bulldogs defensive rebound | |||
5:46 | +2 | Tolu Smith III makes two point layup (Dashawn Davis assists) | 20-26 | |
5:39 | +3 | Jarin Stevenson makes three point jump shot (Mark Sears assists) | 20-29 | |
5:23 | Mouhamed Dioubate shooting foul (Tolu Smith III draws the foul) | |||
5:23 | +1 | Tolu Smith III makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-29 | |
5:23 | +1 | Tolu Smith III makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-29 | |
5:07 | +2 | Mouhamed Dioubate makes two point layup | 22-31 | |
4:41 | Shawn Jones Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
4:39 | Mouhamed Dioubate defensive rebound | |||
4:34 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
4:32 | Dashawn Davis defensive rebound | |||
4:25 | Shakeel Moore misses three point jump shot | |||
4:23 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. defensive rebound | |||
4:16 | +3 | Mark Sears makes three point jump shot (Mouhamed Dioubate assists) | 22-34 | |
3:50 | Cameron Matthews turnover | |||
3:50 | TV timeout | |||
3:39 | Mark Sears misses three point jump shot | |||
3:37 | Rylan Griffen offensive rebound | |||
3:36 | Shawn Jones Jr. personal foul | |||
3:21 | +2 | Mouhamed Dioubate makes two point layup | 22-36 | |
3:21 | Cameron Matthews shooting foul (Mouhamed Dioubate draws the foul) | |||
3:21 | +1 | Mouhamed Dioubate makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 22-37 | |
3:06 | Cameron Matthews turnover | |||
2:53 | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point layup | 22-39 | |
2:53 | Bulldogs 30 second timeout | |||
2:38 | Dashawn Davis misses two point layup | |||
2:36 | Tolu Smith III offensive rebound | |||
2:34 | Tolu Smith III misses two point layup | |||
2:32 | Jarin Stevenson defensive rebound | |||
2:29 | Mouhamed Dioubate misses three point jump shot | |||
2:27 | Shawn Jones Jr. defensive rebound | |||
2:24 | Jarin Stevenson shooting foul (Tolu Smith III draws the foul) | |||
2:24 | Tolu Smith III misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
2:24 | +1 | Tolu Smith III makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-39 | |
2:10 | Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot | |||
2:08 | Cameron Matthews defensive rebound | |||
2:02 | Dashawn Davis turnover (Rylan Griffen steals) | |||
1:52 | +3 | Mark Sears makes three point jump shot (Rylan Griffen assists) | 23-42 | |
1:21 | Shawn Jones Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
1:19 | Mouhamed Dioubate defensive rebound | |||
1:13 | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | |||
1:11 | Jarin Stevenson offensive rebound | |||
1:07 | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | |||
1:05 | Mouhamed Dioubate offensive rebound | |||
1:03 | +3 | Rylan Griffen makes three point jump shot (Mouhamed Dioubate assists) | 23-45 | |
0:47 | Mouhamed Dioubate shooting foul (Tolu Smith III draws the foul) | |||
0:47 | +1 | Tolu Smith III makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-45 | |
0:47 | Tolu Smith III misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:47 | Rylan Griffen defensive rebound | |||
0:33 | +2 | Jarin Stevenson makes two point layup (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. assists) | 24-47 | |
0:01 | Josh Hubbard misses two point layup | |||
0:00 | Tolu Smith III offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |