Bulldogs Fall at Alabama, 90-69

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The trio of Nick Weatherspoon, Reggie Perry and Robert Woodard II combined for 48 points, but the Bulldogs fell to the Alabama Crimson Tide, 90-69, Wednesday night at Coleman Coliseum.

With the loss, the Bulldogs fall to 9-5 (0-2 SEC), while the Crimson Tide improves to 8-6 (1-1 SEC).

The Bulldogs held an early 5-2 edge, but the Tide used an 11-0 tun to take a 13-5 lead with 13:33 to play in the first half.

A layup by Weatherspoon cut the deficit to two points at 23-21 with 7:26 to play in the half. Shortly after that, a made free throw by Weatherspoon made it a one-point game at 23-22 with 6:38 left. State took a 24-23 lead after a fastbreak layup by Tyson Carter, but the lead was short-lived, and the Tide managed a double-digit lead at 42-32 with 25 seconds left in the half. MSU went into the halftime break trailing 42-34.

Trailing by double digits almost six minutes into the second half, State managed to draw within six points at 58-52 with 13:06 to play, but Alabama went on a 10-0 run to pull away at 70-53 with 8:11 to play in the game.

The Bulldogs were unable to make any sort of comeback, falling 90-69.

Weatherspoon led the Bulldogs with 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field and 6-of-10 at the charity stripe. Perry tallied 14 points and five rebounds, while Woodard II also scored 14 points. Woodard II was a rebound shy of a double-double. Carter finished with nine points, but was limited to 1-of-5 from beyond the arc.

As a team, MSU shot just 26-of-69 (37.7%) from the field and 4-of-15 (26.7%) from 3-point range. Alabama shot 28-of-57 (49.1%) from the field, including 10-of-24 (41.7%) from beyond the arc. The Tide also outrebounded the Bulldogs 42-38.

Next up for MSU, the Bulldogs travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to face the LSU Tigers on Saturday. Tip time is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and will be televised by ESPN.