At the 8:13 mark of the first half Tuesday night in Starkville, Alabama Basketball appeared to be headed to a 0-3 start in SEC play. The Mississippi State Bulldogs were up on the Crimson Tide by 14 points and seemingly in control.
Alabama went to Starkville unusually short-handed. Unable to play were Latrell Wrightsell, Taylor Bol Bowen, and Keitenn Bristow. With longer-term problems, Davion Hannah and Collins Onyejiaka were again unavailable. Nate Oats said on Monday that Labaron Philon and London Jemison were not 100%.
Having been dominated in Rupp Arena on Saturday, the Bulldogs began the game with an intensity to prove a point. Mississippi State was the aggressor. It took Alabama more than seven and a half minutes to score more than seven points.
Beginning with a two-pony jumper by Houston Mallette at the 7:12 mark, the Crimson Tide climbed back from the 14-point deficit. In the last seven minutes of the first half, the Bulldogs scored five points, while Alabama scored 26. After halftime, the Crimson Tide kept the hammer down, pushing its lead to 14 points at the 16:03 mark, 17 points at 12:49, and 22 points at 8:17.
Without Bol Bowen and Bristow, Alabama was able to outrebound the Bulldogs 47-43. Amari Allen pulled down 13 rebounds for the Crimson Tide. The 'not 100%' version of Labaron Philon scored 32 points, added four rebounds, three assists, and just one turnover in 33 minutes. The SEC's leading scorer, Josh Hubbard, was not the leading scorer in the game. Hubbard finished with 23 points.
The character of this Alabama basketball team
Yes, Alabama, even short-handed, is a better team than Mississippi State. That talent advantage might not have been enough had the character of the Alabama team not been a factor. It was the kind of game when one team willed itself to victory.
After the game, Mississippi State coach Chris Jans said of Alabama, "Obviously they've got really, really good players and a system that they are confident in. Their kids play with great confidence and play really hard, too, I don't think they get enough credit. Everybody talks about their offense and pace but their kids really compete as well."
Alabama fans will like that after the game, Nate Oats praised Kalil Bethea for his defensive play, particularly guarding Josh Hubbard. Oats also said he is hopeful Taylor Bol Bowen will be able to return for Saturday's game at Oklahoma. Talking about Bol Bowen, Oats said he has made "a complete 180" as a leader.
Note: Game stats provided by StatBroadcast