Alabama Handles Mississippi State Without Star Player

Freshman Amari Allen steps up with career-high 6 three-pointers in Tide's 100-75 win.

Feb. 26, 2026 at 6:23am

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The Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team defeated Mississippi State 100-75 on Wednesday night, despite the absence of their leading scorer, sophomore Labaron Philon. Freshman forward Amari Allen led the way for Alabama, hitting a career-high 6 three-pointers and scoring 23 points. Four other Alabama players also scored in double figures, as the team tied its own record with 22 made three-pointers in the game.

Why it matters

Alabama's ability to win convincingly without its star player Labaron Philon demonstrates the team's depth and versatility. The Crimson Tide proved they can adjust their game plan and get production from multiple sources when a key player is unavailable, which will be crucial as they make a push for a high seed in the upcoming SEC tournament.

The details

Philon, who had a career-high 32 points in Alabama's previous matchup with Mississippi State, sat out Wednesday's game to rest and recover for upcoming important games. In his absence, freshman Amari Allen stepped up, hitting 6 three-pointers and scoring a team-high 23 points. Four other Alabama players - Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (18 points), Aden Holloway (16 points), Aiden Sherrell (11 points), and Taylor Bol Bowen (10 points) - also scored in double figures as the Tide cruised to a 25-point victory.

  • Alabama defeated Yale 102-78 without Philon in late December.
  • Wednesday's game against Mississippi State was the second time this season Alabama has won without Philon.
  • Alabama faces Tennessee this Saturday, February 28.

The players

Labaron Philon

Alabama's leading scorer who missed Wednesday's game against Mississippi State.

Amari Allen

Freshman forward who scored a career-high 23 points, including 6 three-pointers, in the win over Mississippi State.

Nate Oats

Alabama's head coach who joked about sitting Philon more often after the team's impressive 3-point shooting performance without him.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously, Labaron's [Philon] our leading scorer, so some guys were gonna have to score some more tonight. We had five or six guys in double figures, so I feel like we all knew we had to come out and fill the role that Baron had. I feel like we did a good job of it.”

— Amari Allen, Freshman forward

“I didn't realize that. I guess we need to sit Philon more. The offense clicks, we get 22 threes every time we sit him? Maybe I'll see if he wants to sit Saturday (against Tennessee).”

— Nate Oats, Head Coach

What’s next

With a win on Saturday against Tennessee, Alabama can lock down a top-4 finish in the SEC regular season, resulting in a double-bye for the SEC tournament, scheduled for the second week of March.

The takeaway

Alabama's ability to win convincingly without its star player Labaron Philon demonstrates the team's depth and versatility. The Crimson Tide proved they can adjust their game plan and get production from multiple sources when a key player is unavailable, which will be crucial as they make a push for a high seed in the upcoming SEC tournament.