Alabama picks up ninth win in a row

NO. 18 ALABAMA 81, MISSISSIPPI STATE 73

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 18 Alabama faced down a challenge and kept its winning streak alive, if not the Crimson Tide’s string of blowouts.

Herbert Jones had 17 points and seven assists to help Alabama win its ninth consecutive game with an 81-73 victory over Mississippi State on Saturday. This one wasn’t decided until the last minute for a team that had won its past three games by an average of 27 points.

“It’s actually good to play some close games,” Alabama Coach Nate Oats said. “We had been hitting shots at a pretty high clip and blowing teams out so it’s good to have to execute some late-game stuff.”

The Tide (13-3, 8-0) have won eight consecutive SEC games for the first time since starting league play 8-0 in the 1986-87 season.

This one didn’t come as easily as recent wins over Kentucky, Arkansas and LSU.

The Bulldogs (9-7, 4-4) cut an 11-point second-half deficit down to three in the final minute, but John Petty Jr. answered with a three-pointer with 32 seconds left.

Petty, the program’s career leader in three-pointers, made sure Alabama didn’t have to sweat too much.

“We think every shot he takes is going to go in,” said teammate Alex Reese, who had 11 points. “After the game he told me he should have hit me for one more. I said, ‘No you shouldn’t have.’ ”

Freshman guard Joshua Primo scored 16 points and made four first-half three-pointers for the Tide.

Petty scored 12 points on four three-pointers and Jaden Shackelford also had 12 for the Tide.

D.J. Stewart Jr. led Mississippi State with 27 points and Iverson Molinar added 19.

NO. 19 MISSOURI 73, NO. 6 TENNESSEE 64

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Xavier Pinson scored 27 points to lead No. 19 Missouri to a victory over No. 6 Tennessee.

Pinson became the first opponent to score more than 20 points against the Volunteers this season. Dru Smith added 18 for the Tigers (10-2, 4-2).

Yves Pons paced Tennessee (10-3, 4-3) with 20 points. Victor Bailey and Josiah-Jordan James each scored 12 for the Vols, who have lost their past two games.

Tennessee played without freshman standout Jaden Springer, who missed the game with an ankle injury.

Pinson, who struggled in the previous two games, scored 19 points in the first half to lead Missouri to a 40-34 advantage. Smith had 13 before the break.

AUBURN 109, SOUTH CAROLINA 86

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Allen Flanigan (Little Rock Parkview) scored a career-high 24 points with four three-pointers, Sharife Cooper had a double-double by halftime and Auburn defeated South Carolina for its first win on the Gamecocks home floor since 2014.

Auburn put up its most points in a SEC road win in program history.

Coope scored 16 points and had 12 assists.

Jaylin Williams scored 18 points with seven rebounds, JT Thor added 14 points and seven rebounds and Devan Cambridge scored 10 as the Tigers (9-7, 3-5) made 40 of 77 field goals (52%)

KENTUCKY 82, LSU 69

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Keion Brooks Jr. had 13 of his season-high 15 points in the first half, Brandon Boston Jr. added 13 of his 18 points in the second half, and Kentucky trailed for just 15 seconds in its victory over LSU, snapping a threegame skid.

Kentucky (5-9, 4-3), which had a sixgame losing streak earlier this season, got a much-needed win in the first of a five-game stretch against Top-40 teams. The Wildcats avoided their third fourgame slide under Coach John Calipari.

Trendon Watford tied his career best with 26 points and added a season-high tying 10 rebounds, and freshman Cameron Thomas scored 18 for LSU (10-4, 5-3).

FLORIDA 92, GEORGIA 84

ATHENS, Ga. — Tre Mann scored a career-high 24 points and Florida broke away from Georgia.

Noah Locke added 16 points, making four three-pointers, Colin Castleton scored 14, Tyree Appleby (Jacksonville) 14 and Omar Payne 10 for the Gators (84, 5-3) who have now won two in a row after upending No. 6 Tennessee earlier in the week.

Andrew Garcia scored 17 points on 8-for-9 shooting and K.D. Johnson added 16 to pace Georgia (9-5, 2-5).

MISSISSIPPI 61, TEXAS A&M 50

OXFORD, Miss. — Jarkel Joiner scored 21 points with seven rebounds and Devontae Shuler scored 17 and Mississippi beat Texas A&M.

Kevin Marfo’s layup with 1:55 left before the halftime gave Texas A&M a 2823 lead. Ole Miss (8-6, 3-4) proceeded to go on a 20-2 run from which the Aggies (7-6, 2-5) never regrouped.

Miller scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Aggies.