Alabama Basketball Triumphs in Starkville, Overcomes Mississippi State in Gritty Battle
Securing an SEC road win against a formidable opponent is always a reason for celebration. On Wednesday night in Starkville, Alabama Basketball emerged victorious against Mississippi State, showcasing resilience and making crucial plays throughout the game.
In their hard-fought 88-84 victory, the Crimson Tide had four players scoring in double figures. Chris Youngblood led the charge with 23 points, hitting 7 of his 10 three-point attempts, and sealing the game with two vital free throws in the final moments. Mark Sears had a strong comeback performance, contributing 17 points, six rebounds, and nine assists. Grant Nelson added 15 points and seven rebounds, while Aden Holloway chipped in with 12 points and two assists.
Mo Dioubate made a significant impact in just 18 minutes of play, scoring four points, grabbing nine rebounds, and adding two assists, a block, and a steal. Dioubate’s efforts earned him the Hard Hat Award, edging out Sears. Coach Nate Oats praised Dioubate after the game, saying, “He’s just a winner. He finds his way on the floor, and he makes us play him.”
Alabama’s victory was a testament to their ‘refuse to lose’ attitude, demonstrated in three key areas. The Crimson Tide excelled from beyond the arc, making 48% of their 31 three-point attempts, led by Youngblood’s scorching shooting. They also dominated the boards, outrebounding the Bulldogs 41-35, with a 17-13 advantage in offensive rebounds. These 17 offensive boards translated to 14 second-chance points, compared to eight for Mississippi State.
Room for Improvement on Defense
While the effort was evident, Alabama still has room for improvement on the defensive end. Mississippi State guard Josh Hubbard put on a scoring clinic, tallying 38 points. Alabama struggled to contain him, as Hubbard, who entered the game with a career shooting percentage of 38.4%, shot 50% against the Crimson Tide. Coach Oats acknowledged Hubbard’s impressive performance and admitted, “We didn’t do a very good job on him, but man, he made some tough shots… We have to do a better job on defense, obviously, but we definitely made some big plays elsewhere to compensate for our defensive shortcomings.”
Credit must be given to Mississippi State for their tough and well-executed play. Few teams would manage to secure a win in Starkville with Hubbard scoring at will as he did on Wednesday night. While it was a commendable win for Alabama, it also highlighted areas where the team needs to improve to be championship contenders.
