Tuscaloosa, AL (Sports Network) - Rodney Cooper scored 20 points and grabbed
10 rebounds to notch his first-career double-double as the Alabama Crimson
Tide defeated the Mississippi State Bulldogs, 64-56, in an SEC bout at Coleman
Coliseum.
Trevor Releford tallied 17 points for Alabama (18-8, 10-3 SEC) while Trevor
Lacey added 11 points before fouling out. The Crimson Tide have won four
straight games and six of their last seven.
Jalen Steele paced Mississippi State (7-18, 2-11) with 15 points off the
bench. Colin Borchert chipped in 14 points and nine rebounds.
Alabama led 31-20 thanks to stout defense which held Mississippi State to 8-
of-26 shooting in the first half and 1-of-9 from 3-point range while forcing
nine Bulldogs' turnovers.
The Bulldogs shot 54.5 percent in the second half and 5-of-11 from 3-point
range, however their comeback attempt fell short when Releford and Cooper
scored consecutive baskets at the rim with 2:24 remaining.
Despite the loss, the Mississippi State reserves outscored their counterparts,
23-10. The Crimson Tide improved to 117-73 all-time over the Bulldogs.
GAME NOTES:
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