No. 14 Alabama Basketball Erases 14-point First Half Deficit, Defeats Ole Miss 103-88

On the road once more, the Crimson Tide garners a much-needed conference victory in Oxford.

OXFORD, Miss. – Rebel meltdown.

On Wednesday, No. 14 Alabama basketball defeated Ole Miss 103-88 at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion, moving to 20-8 overall and 12-3 in conference play.

Early in the first half, the Rebels jumped out to a 13-8 lead at the first media timeout.

With the help of Allen Flanigan’s 12 first-half points, Ole Miss found themselves with a 14-point lead at the 5:07 mark in the first half, stunning the Crimson Tide, who couldn’t contain the Rebel offense in most phases of the game.

Then, Nate Oats’ offense started to click. By halftime, Alabama trailed by a manageable three points – 42-39.

From then on, the momentum had firmly shifted into the Crimson Tide’s hands, and they never relented, outscoring the rebels 64-46 in the second half to secure the win on the road.

[this story will be updated]

Live Updates

(most recent at the top)

Second Half: 

• 2:42 2H: Crimson Tide are 4 of their last 5 from the field. They're shooting for 100 points once again. Alabama 93, Ole Miss 84. 
• 5:18 2H: Flagrant 1 called on Moussa Cisse for the Rebels. Pringle converts one of two. Davin Cosby has hit two threes in the last four minutes. Alabama 83, Ole Miss 74. 
• Media Timeout - 7:56 2H: Rylan Griffen just picked up his fourth foul. Huge blow for Alabama, as Griffen was beginning to heat up from three-point range, drilling 4-for-7 shots from deep. He has 14 points on 5-for-11 shooting. Alabama 72, Ole Miss 68. 
• 9:39 2H: 8-0 run for Ole Miss after the free throws from Murray. We have a tie game. Alabama 65, Ole Miss 65. 
• Media Timeout - 11:46 2H - Ole Miss has cut the lead to six, but momentum is still swinging in the Crimson Tide's favor. Alabama 62, Ole Miss 52. 
• Media Timeout - 13:58 2H: Crimson Tide have pushed their lead to nine courtesy of a much-needed three-pointer from Rylan Griffen, who had been struggling from the field. Alabama 60, Ole Miss 51. 
• Timeout OM - 15:49 2H: Rebels have turned it over three times in the span of 1:30. In that time, Estrada converted a layup and Sears finished off a three-point play. Crimson Tide are getting the exact start they hoped for. Alabama 54, Ole Miss 49. 
• 17:39 2H: Ball movement from Alabama has been crisp to start half No. 2. They have their first lead of the game. Grant Nelson completes the three-point play. Alabama 49, Ole Miss 46. 

Halftime Stats:

Halftime stats courtesy of StatBroadcast.com

First Half:

• 0:00 1H: A once 14 point Ole Miss lead has been dwindled to four thanks to some clutch shooting from Mark Sears, who has 15 points on 5-for-6 shooting at the break. Ole Miss 42, Alabama 39. 
• Timeout OM - 2:17 1H: Estrada hits a stepback three two possessions after Nelson hits a catch-and-shoot three of his own. Crimson Tide slowly crawling their way back in this one. Ole Miss 37, Alabama 32. 
• Media Timeout - 3:47 1H: A three-pointer from Mark Sears cuts the Rebels lead to 11. Ugly display of basketball on both ends from both teams. Ole Miss 37, Alabama 26. 
• Timeout ALA - 5:06 1H: A dunk from Flanigan and a three-point play from Brakefield has The Pavilion rocking. Rebels push their lead to 14. Ole Miss 37, Alabama 23. 
• 6:20 1H: Crimson Tide offense is getting good looks. They just can't capitalize. Cosby Jr. just missed two wide open threes consecutively. Ole Miss 32, Alabama 22. 
• Alabama has 16 points in the paint compared to the Rebels' 10. We'll see if they continue to take advantage of their size and strength in what could end up being a shootout type of game instead. 
• Media Timeout - 7:54 1H: Crimson Tide defense is leaving a plethora of open shots for the Rebel offense. Catch-and-shoot opportunities, incorrect screen coverages, blow-bys, you name it. As a result, they're in an early hole. Ole Miss 30, Alabama 19.
• Media Timeout - 11:21 1H: Big time bucket from Mohamed Dioubate. He'll be trying to convert the three-point play when we return. Rebels are shooting 66% from the field and 50% from three point range to start this game. Ole Miss 25, Alabama 15. 
• Media Timeout - 15:14 1H: Alabama's defensive struggles continue. Walters just got beat on a pump fake, and on the ensuing offensive possession, airballs a three. Ole Miss 13, Alabama 8. 
• 17:00 1H: First subs coming in for Alabama. Pringle and Walters enter the game in placement of Griffen and Nelson. Ole Miss 9, Alabama 6.

Pregame:

• Starting five for Alabama: Sears, Griffen, Estrada, Nelson, Stevenson. 
• Tipoff has been pushed back five minutes to 8:05 p.m. CT. 
• No sign of Latrell Wrightsell Jr., who is dealing with an ongoing head injury. 
• BamaCentral's Mathey Gibson will have coverage beginning at 7:00 p.m. CT. 

How to Watch: No. 14 Alabama at Ole Miss

Who: No. 14 Alabama (19-8, 11-3 SEC) at Ole Miss (19-8, 6-8 SEC)

When: Wednesday, Feb. 28, 8 p.m. CT

Where: The Sandy and John Black Pavilion, Oxford, Miss.

TV: ESPN2

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Analyst: Bryan Passink). The pregame show will begin one hour prior to tipoff.

Series: Alabama leads, 124-58

Last Meeting: On January 3, 2023, Alabama dominated Ole Miss at home 82-64 for its first home SEC game of the 2023 season. Brandon Miller led the way with 17 points, while Mark Sears added 16 of his own.

Last Time Out, Alabama: The Crimson Tide went on the road and got obliterated by Kentucky, losing 117-95. It was the third-most points Alabama has ever given up in a game in program history. The scoring leader for Alabama was Rylan Griffen with 21 points.

Last Time Out, Ole Miss: The Rebels fell at home on Saturday to South Carolina, losing 72-59. It was just its second home loss of the season. Ole Miss forward Moussa Cisse led the team with 13 points in the loss.

Alabama Leaders:

• Scoring: Mark Sears (20.4 PPG)
• Rebounding: Grant Nelson (5.7 RPG)
• Assists: Aaron Estrada (4.3 APG)

Ole Miss Leaders:

• Scoring: G Matthew Murrell (17.1 PPG)
• Rebounding: G Allen Flanigan (6.5 RPG)
• Assists: G Jaylen Murray (4.1 APG)

See also:

Former Alabama Basketball Forward Richard Hendrix Named 2024 SEC Legend