Alabama
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Mississippi State
Men's Basketball Falls at Mississippi State, 83-74
1/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 14, 2009
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The University of Alabama men's basketball team dropped its first Southeastern Conference road game of the season to Mississippi State 83-74 at Humphrey Coliseum Wednesday night. The Crimson Tide, trailing 78-65, went on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to four points with 1:43 remaining but ultimately could not overcome the Bulldogs' double-digit lead.
Four Tide players scored in double figures led by junior Mikhail Torrance who came off the bench to score a game-high 20 points. Torrance shot a perfect 6-6 at the foul line and 6-9 from the floor. Senior Alonzo Gee scored in double figures for the 14th straight game with 15 points.
Freshman forward JaMychal Green notched a double-double scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Sophomore Senario Hillman added 12 points to round out the Tide's double-figure scorers.
Mississippi State took control of the game in the second half by finding its range from behind the arc. The Bulldogs went 8-11 from three-point range in the second half after going 3-13 in the first frame.
The Tide took a 36-33 lead into the halftime break behind a strong defensive performance in which Alabama held MSU to 39 percent shooting from the field. Alabama made 47 percent of its field goal attempts before intermission.
Phil Turner led Mississippi State with 17 points while Jarvis Varnado posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Dee Bost added a double-double of his own coming off the bench with 13 points and 10 assists.
Alabama plays its second straight road contest on Saturday, Jan. 17 when its takes on in-state rival Auburn. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CT.
