TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Amari Allen scored 23 points and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. added 18 as No. 17 Alabama defeated Mississippi State 100-75 on Wednesday night.
Aden Holloway had 16 for the Crimson Tide (21-7, 11-4 Southeastern Conference). Alabama opened the game with five 3-pointers in a 15-2 run and hit a season-high 16 3s in the first half. It was Alabama’s ninth straight game with at least 10 made 3-pointers.
Leading scorer Labaron Philon missed the game with a left leg injury, coach Nate Oats said. Freshman London Jemison started in his place, marking the team’s 13th different starting lineup this season, the most since Oats became coach. Alabama led 66-33 at halftime and made 22 3-pointers (22 for 50), the most by an SEC team in conference play this season, according to the box score.
Mississippi State (13-15, 5-10) struggled early. Josh Hubbard, the SEC’s leading scorer entering the game, finished with 11 points, his third-lowest output this season. Achor Achor led the Bulldogs with 18. Mississippi State outscored Alabama 42-37 in the second half, but the deficit was too large to overcome. The Bulldogs host Missouri on Saturday, and Alabama travels to Tennessee on Saturday.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
