Tide Destroy Bulldogs, Keep Pace in SEC Ahead of Brutal End of Season Schedule

February 26, 2025 Michael Brauner AL BASKETBALL, Alabama, Alabama, Featured News
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 15: Alabama Crimson Tide guard Mark Sears (1) dribbles down the floor during a quarterfinal round game of the men's Southeastern Conference Tournament between the Florida Gators and Alabama Crimson Tide, March 15, 2024, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire)

The No. 6 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide had one of its best performances of the season on Tuesday night with a dominating victory over the No. 24 Mississippi State Bulldogs in Coleman Coliseum to keep pace in the SEC standings and climb to a game and a half behind the Auburn Tigers.

With a 53-point first half and an even bigger second half, Alabama claimed a 38-point 111-73 win behind huge nights from Chris Youngblood and Mark Sears. The former set a Crimson Tide career high with 27, while the latter added 21 points of his own with 10 assists as well.

Using a 21-4 run in the first half to build a big halftime lead, it was never much of a game in Coleman Coliseum.

The three-point shooting was immaculate for Alabama with the 22 long balls in the night coming just shy of the program record in a game overall. It was however the most threes in program history against a team ranked in the AP Poll.

Moving forward, things are not easy for the Tide. In order to have any chance at even a share of an SEC regular season title, Alabama likely has to defeat both Tennessee on the road as well as Florida at home, both top-five teams ahead of the regular season finale against Auburn.

The Tigers would also have to lose at least one of their remaining games at home against Ole Miss or on the road against Kentucky and Texas A&M for the Tide to have a shot at the title in Neville Arena to close out the regular season.

Regardless, Alabama seems to have hit a stride over the previous two games and they will need to continue to be at their best in order to have any chance at both a conference title as well as a deep run in March.