Men's Basketball Travels to No. 20 Mississippi State
1/13/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Alabama Basketball Preview - at No. 20 Mississippi State
Alabama (13-3, 2-0 SEC) at Mississippi State (14-3, 1-1 SEC)
Crimson Tide Basketball Central
Basketball Home | Season Statistics | Roster | Media Guide | TideTV - Watch the games online! | SEC Basketball | NCAA BasketballJan. 13, 2012
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -
The University of Alabama men's basketball team takes to the road for the second time in SEC play on Saturday when it travels to nearby Mississippi State. Tipoff at Humphrey Coliseum is scheduled for 3 p.m. with the contest being carried by SEC Network outlets and on radio via the Crimson Tide Sports Network.
The Crimson Tide heads to Starkville with a 2-0 SEC record and a 13-3 overall mark after using a pair of 9-0 runs to handle LSU, 69-53, on Wednesday for its fifth straight win. No. 20/20 Mississippi State continues its homestand after a 62-58 win over Tennessee on Thursday to improve to 1-1 in the league and 14-3 overall.
"They've got a very good team and a strong combination with Dee Bost being a senior point guard and the leadership he provides," UA head coach Anthony Grant said. "He leads their team and they're getting great play out of their other guards as well."
That skill on both the perimeter combined with interior size will be tested against an Alabama defense that is one of the top in the nation by allowing a scant 55.7 points per game this season, the eighth best average in the nation with only four opponents scoring 60 or more points against UA this season.
Capitalizing on the defense's work has allowed UA to rattle off five straight wins with an average margin of victory of 18 points those opponents, including a Big 12, ACC and two SEC programs.
Trevor Releford has led Alabama in scoring in the four of the last five games and is averaging 17.2 points per game on 35-of-48 shooting (5-of-11 from three-point) with 15 assists and 14 steals during that span. In his last outing, he matched a season-high with 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting.
"He's been doing a great job scoring, pushing the team and leading," JaMychal Green said of the Tide's point guard. "He's got to continue to do that and if he can build on that, we'll be a tough team to beat."
MSU is led by Bost's 16.0 points and 4.4 assists per game. He has also converted on 34 of his 109 three-point attempts and according to Grant has, "has an ability to impose his will into games."
Inside, Arnett Moultrie averages a double-double with 15.9 points and 10.8 rebounds per game and is flanked by the 6-10, 285-pound Renardo Sidney.
"Moultrie and Sidney are probably one of the biggest frontcourts that we'll see this year," Grant said. "They've played extremely well and have had a lot of success this season."
UA leads the all-time series between the programs by a 114-72 margin after sweeping the Bulldogs last season, including a 75-57 win in Starkville.
Following Saturday's game, the Tide will return home to host Vanderbilt on Jan. 19 at 6 p.m.
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AL Birmingham-Tuscaloosa-Anniston WTTO CW
AL Dothan GTVY MNT
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GA Savannah WJCL ABC
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IN Indianapolis WHMB-DT2 HAR
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MO Springfield, MO KOZL FOX
MS Biloxi-Gulfport EXXV MNT
MS Columbus-Tupelo-West Point WCBI CBS
MS Greenwood-Greenville WABG-A ABC
MS Jackson, MS WJTV-DT3 RTV
MS Meridian EGBC NBC
NC Norfolk-Portsmth-Newpt Nws WSKY IND
OK Oklahoma City KSBI IND
SC Myrtle Beach-Florence WPDE-DT2 WEA
TN Jackson, TN WJKT FOX
TN Memphis WLMT CW
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