Alabama pushes past Mississippi State for top-25 win in SEC opener

Alabama beat one other top-25 workforce Wednesday night time, however it’ll hope a few of what occurred in The Hump will keep in The Hump.

The Tide’s 78-67 win over No. 21-ranked Mississippi State was the defensive battle that coach Nate Oats anticipated, with Alabama shaking off a sluggish begin to draw back within the second half. Eighth-ranked Alabama improved to 11-2 by opening its SEC schedule with a highway victory in Starkville’s sold-out Humphrey Coliseum.

“They’re a troublesome workforce. They make it tough on you,” Oats mentioned. “I believed our effort was actually good. We made some robust performs, acquired on the ground. I used to be proud our guys.”

Aided by its protection and early three-pointers, Mississippi State briefly led halfway via the primary half. The 2 top-25 groups mixed for under 18 factors within the first 10 minutes, with scoring selecting up as the sport progressed. Alabama led by 4 factors at halftime, 34-30, then out-scored MSU within the second half, 44-37.

“We went on the highway in opposition to a top-25 workforce and have been in a position to come out with a fairly convincing win,” Oats mentioned of the ultimate end result.

Oats wished his workforce to chop down on its turnovers, and that didn’t occur. The Tide turned the ball over 19 instances, conserving Mississippi State inside placing vary till late. The Bulldogs balanced Alabama’s offensive sloppiness by lacking half of its free throws, ending 18-of-36.

Three well timed three-pointers within the ultimate 9 minutes by Alabama freshman Brandon Miller, who completed with 19 factors, in the end saved the Bulldogs at bay. He added 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.

Miller completed 5-of-10 from past the arc, combining with Mark Sears’ 4-of-8 three-point capturing and team-high 20 factors in opposition to Mississippi State’s protection. Underneath first-year coach Chris Jans, MSU entered third within the nation in permitting lower than 53 factors per recreation.

Mississippi State made 10 of its ultimate 11 free throws after starting 8-of-25. Most of these misses got here from main scorer Tolu Smith, who completed 3-of-15 from the road. Smith completed with 5 factors on 1-of-7 capturing from the sphere.

“We didn’t [foul Smith] deliberately,” Oats mentioned. “We have been attempting to get stops. We have been upset with our guys on a few of these performs. We didn’t suppose they made the appropriate play. They fouled him and it finally ends up understanding as a result of he goes 0-for-2 they usually don’t get any factors on the possession.”

Smith performed solely 9 minutes within the second half and went to the bench for the ultimate time with greater than 5 minutes remaining.

“He’s among the finest gamers within the league, they usually didn’t play him,” Oats mentioned. “An enormous a part of our recreation plan stepping into was how are we going to protect Tolu. … I didn’t suppose we did an ideal job on Tolu, to be sincere with you. I do know he was 1-for-7, however we most likely fouled him a bit of an excessive amount of.”

Regardless of its struggles on the line and from its 6-foot-11 ahead, the Bulldogs have been unexpectedly in a position to rating on three pointers. Coming into the night time 311th in three-point proportion (30.5), MSU shot 38 % (9-of-24).

“We form of overcame a few their guys having actually good capturing nights. KeShawn Murphy went 3-for-3 within the first half,” Oats mentioned of the second-year ahead from Birmingham. “Various things went alternative ways, however our guys stepped up.”

Wednesday was the seventh time in 13 video games this season that Alabama has turned the ball over not less than 19 instances. The Tide entered averaging the Tenth-most turnovers per recreation, 16.9, in Division I.

Jahvon Quinerly was answerable for 4 of Alabama’s turnovers in 11 minutes on the court docket, along with his enjoying time restricted by three first-half fouls. Quinerly, although, shot 2-of-4 from past the arc for his six factors. Beginning guard Jaden Bradley had 4 turnovers however added seven assists and 7 factors in 25 minutes.

“I believed Jaden Bradley did an ideal job operating the workforce,” Oats mentioned. “I believed he was aggressive in opposition to their press.”

Ahead Nick Pringle, a junior faculty switch, had 10 factors for Alabama after a season-high 14 in his final recreation in opposition to Jackson State. One other newcomer to the entrance court docket, freshman Noah Clowney, had 12 factors and eight rebounds.

Alabama was referred to as for a season-high 25 fouls, with Miller becoming a member of Quinerly in logging three earlier than halftime. Charles Bediako was whistled for 3 within the second half to foul out.

“I believed our depth actually helped us,” Oats mentioned.

Guard Dom Welch made his debut for Alabama after lacking the primary 12 video games with a calf harm, enjoying 9 minutes. The graduate switch from St. Bonaventure missed a pair of three pointers however grabbed two rebounds.

“I believed his protection was nice,” Oats mentioned. “Clearly he’s a bit of rusty. Bought some threes. He’s gonna make threes. He’s a extremely good shooter. He’s solely practiced someday — yesterday was the primary day he’s practiced in a month-and-a-half, or no matter. We assumed he’d be a bit of rusty on offense, however was I glad I used to be in a position to get him 9 minutes. We’ll attempt to enhance his minutes as he will get extra snug.”

Junior ahead Darius Miles, who has averaged 6.7 minutes this season, was not on the bench for the sport. Oats mentioned Miles was coping with a “private matter” and never an harm.

“We’re supporting him via it and attempting to assist him via it,” he mentioned. “We’re not fairly positive how lengthy he’ll be out.”

Alabama has New Yr’s weekend off earlier than internet hosting Ole Miss subsequent Tuesday in Coleman Coliseum.

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Comply with him on Twitter @mikerodak.