BamaCentral Courtside: No. 1 Alabama 72, No. 9 Mississippi State 49

The BamaCentral crew breaks down Alabama's SEC Tournament quarterfinal win over Mississippi State from Bridgestone Arena.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Top-seeded Alabama basketball opened its quest for the 2023 SEC Tournament championship with a victory, defeating 9-seed Mississippi State by a final score of 72-49.

The Crimson Tide made a change in the starting lineup, inserting Jahvon Quinerly in place of Jaden Bradley as part of an attempt to eliminate its recurring theme of slow starts.

The strategy worked, as Alabama led wire-to-wire. 

Quinerly scored eight early points for the Crimson Tide, and finished the game with 10 and four assists. Freshman phenom Brandon Miller continued doing what he does, scoring 18 points including 4-for-9 shooting from deep, adding nine rebounds and five assists as well.

The story of the game for Alabama was Charles Bediako. Playing on his birthday, the sophomore center had one of the best games of his season and career. He posted 11 points on just one missed shot from the field, and tallied an astounding five blocks in an effort that showed why he was named to the SEC All-Defense team. 

Alabama got its 3-point shooting back on track as well, shooting above 30 percent from beyond the arc for the first time since defeating Georgia on Feb. 18. For the game, Alabama made 13 of its 37 attempts from downtown, for a 35 percent clip, bolstered by a combined seven makes from Miller and Noah Gurley.

With the win, Alabama advances to the semifinal round of the SEC Tournament, which will tip off tomorrow at noon CT. The Crimson Tide will play the winner of 4-seed Missouri and 5-seed Tennessee.

Check out the video above where Joey Blackwell, Blake Byler, Austin Hannon and Katie Windham break down the Crimson Tide's quarterfinal round victory from Bridgestone Arena.

See also: 

Alabama Blows Out Bulldogs on Way To SEC Tournament Semifinals

“Birthday Chuck”: Bediako Stars in No. 1 Alabama’s Quarterfinal Win Over No. 9 Mississippi State

Jahvon Quinerly Impactful in Return to Alabama Starting Lineup