Alabama basketball opened up convention play by including one other ranked win to its resume. The No. 8 Crimson Tide took some time to warmth up however finally discovered its contact in time to roll to a 78-67 victory over No. 21 Mississippi State in Starkville.
Alabama (11-2, 1-0 within the SEC) opened the sport 4 of 17 from the ground earlier than capturing 45.6% on the night time. Mississippi State (11-2, 0-1) was equally chilly from the beginning, hitting simply 4 of its first 19 photographs. Not like the Crimson Tide, the Bulldogs weren’t capable of finding their stroke, ending 36.4% from the ground.
Listed below are three takeaways from the sport.
Brandon Miller recorded his second straight double-double regardless of being pressured to the bench early. The five-star freshman obtained off to a quick begin, scoring 8 factors and knocking down six rebounds by the 5:50 mark within the first interval. Nonetheless, he was whistled for his third foul 45 seconds later, sending him to the bench for the remainder of the half.
Alabama headed into halftime with a 34-30 lead earlier than pulling away early after the break. Mississippi State opened the second half capturing 2 of 9 from the ground. In the meantime, Alabama used an 11-2 run to increase its result in 50-37 with 13:39 to play. The Crimson Tide by no means actually seemed again from there, cruising to high quality win on the highway.
“I’d actually simply say we locked in on protection,” Alabama ahead Nick Pringle mentioned. “I believe we had ten stops going into the media [timeout] in order that was simply nice for us. And we simply stored constructing protection on protection. Brandon, we performed nice protection, and the offense simply began clicking.”
Miller completed with 19 factors 11 rebounds. He was shot 7 of 15 from the ground and 5 of 10 from past the arc. The efficiency comes after he recorded 14 factors and 10 rebounds throughout Alabama’s victory over Jackson State final week. Miller additionally recorded a double-double in the course of the season opener, registering 14 factors and 13 rebounds in the course of the win over Longwood.
Mark Sears led Alabama with a game-high 20 factors whereas capturing 5 of 11 from the ground and 4 of 8 from deep. Noah Clowney recorded 12 factors and eight rebounds whereas Pringle chipped in with 10 factors and 4 boards off the bench.
Tolu Smith needs to be getting sick of seeing the colour crimson. Alabama as soon as once more locked up the Mississippi State star, limiting him to five factors and 6 rebounds on 1 of seven capturing. The 6-foot-11, 245-pound ahead got here into the sport main the Bulldogs averaging 15.6 factors and eight.7 rebounds whereas capturing 62.2% from the ground.
“He is an amazing participant,” Miller mentioned of Smith. “He is in all probability one of many largest facilities we will should face within the SEC. We simply actually got here as a crew and, I imply we preach protection from the bounce for the reason that summer time. That is the most important factor for us is simply protection.”
Smith has now struggled in his final three video games in opposition to Alabama. Final season, he recorded 4 factors and three rebounds in an 80-75 loss to the Crimson Tide earlier than registering 6 factors and 4 rebounds throughout a 78-76 victory over Alabama.
Smith’s struggles from the ground Wednesday had been coupled from a dismal night time on the free-throw line the place he made 3 of 15 makes an attempt. Mississippi State shot 18 of 36 from the road on the night time. Alabama was 14 of 18 from the stripe.
On an evening had been Alabama noticed certainly one of its wings return from damage, one other is about to be out for an indefinite period of time.
Wednesday night time noticed St. Bonaventure switch Dom Welch make his Crimson Tide debut after sitting out the primary 12 video games of the season with a calf damage. Nonetheless, Alabama will now be with out Darius Miles, who sat out the sport attributable to a private matter. Following the sport, head coach Nate Oats mentioned he’s not sure how lengthy Miles shall be out.
Welch put collectively a quiet debut, lacking a pair of 3-point makes an attempt whereas pulling in two rebounds over 9 minutes. Whereas he did not present a lot of an influence Wednesday night time, the 6-foot-5, 205-pound wing is anticipated to be an necessary a part of the Crimson Tide’s plans shifting ahead.
“I assumed his protection was nice,” Oats mentioned. “Clearly, he was just a little rusty… He’ll make 3s. He is a very good shooter. He is solely practiced in the future. Yesterday was the primary day he is practiced in a month in a half. We assumed he could be just a little rusty on offense, however I used to be glad I used to be capable of get him 9 minutes. We’ll attempt to enhance his minutes as will get extra comfy, however I assumed defensively he gave us some actually good minutes.”
Final season, Welch began 33 video games for St. Bonaventure, averaging 12.3 factors and 6.0 rebounds whereas capturing 41.4% from the ground and 37.4% from past the arc.
