Alabama-Mississippi State: 66-56 Loss Keeps Tide Winless in SEC

Both teams continued their ways on Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa as the Bulldogs rode some hot three-point shooting and some late Alabama miscues to secure their 66-56 win on the road. 

The Bulldogs built a 33-28 halftime lead to 13 with 12 minutes left in the game, but in true fashion, the Crimson Tide wouldn’t go away. 

The Tide cut the lead to 4 points with 8 minutes and 4 minutes to go, but State kept their composure and limited Alabama to just one point in the final two and a half minutes.  The Bulldogs caused some turnovers and capitalized on them to keep their lead the entire second half.

The Bulldogs rode the play of Jamont Gordon, who had 24 points for State in 34 minutes of play, and the ability to make the outside shot. 

“When you’re hot, you’re hot, I guess,” Gordon said after the game.

There is no doubt that MSU was hot, hitting 12-26 shots from downtown.  They became the second straight Tide opponent to score at least half their points from behind the arc.  Georgia scored 30 of their 61 points from 3-point range.

Alabama was once again led by Richard Hendrix.  Hendrix scored 21 points, a team high, but failed to build on his league leading double-doubles, only pulling down six rebounds.  Alonzo Gee scored 10 points, the only other Tide player in double figures. 

One player that Alabama has been missing the past few games is Mykal Riley. 

Riley scored only five points.  In his past two games, Riley has only scored 15 points and made 1 of 10 shots from downtown.  On the season, he has averaged 13 points per game and shot 42% from three point range. 

Jarvis Varnado, the NCAA leader in blocked shots, was a non-factor going up against Richard Hendrix.  Varnado had two points, four fouls and no blocked shots against the Tide big man.

An early morning snow kept many Alabama fans and students from attending the game, but Mississippi State fans could not be kept away.   

The Bulldogs had a good representation in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.  The two campuses are the closest together in the SEC, only 80 miles apart.

Right now, Alabama is off to their worst start ever under head coach Mark Gottfried at 0-4. 

“We just can’t finish for some reason,” Hendrix said.  “We have to come together.  When you are 0-4, you have to come together.”

At 4-0, Mississippi State is off to the best start in the SEC, sitting atop the Western Division.

“We’ve got so much confidence right now,” said Gordon.  “Before we were hoping we could win.  Now we know we can win.”

Alabama will look to finally get in the win column next Saturday against in-state rival Auburn after a week off.  Mississippi State will also take a week off before playing their in-state rival Ole Miss.  Both teams will play their next games at home.