Mississippi State Basketball Struggles at the Free-Throw Line in Alabama Loss
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STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State basketball failed to capitalize against Alabama on Saturday night, and it cost the Bulldogs during the 82-74 loss.
A packed house at the Humphrey Coliseum gave off the energy of a big game but the Bulldog's shortcomings at the free-throw line hurt them and the rabid fans in the crowd.
The feeling of the game was similar to the Bulldog's away game loss against South Carolina. Early foul trouble for Tolu Smith, Cameron Matthews, and Josh Hubbard slowed the Bulldogs down however, this game came down to missed opportunities at the charity stripe.
In the first half, MSU (12-4, SEC 1-2) struggled from the free throw line going 4-10 and those woes would be seen again in the close stretches of the end of the game finishing 15-27 at the line.
In the closing stretches of the game, State was in the bonus and got sent to the line on three separate occasions. The score going into those opportunities was 76-74 in favor of Alabama.
Smith was the first to take a chance to tie the game but both were too strong and the first opportunity was missed.
State came back with a great defensive play finishing with a block and shot clock violation in the next series leading to Matthews drawing a foul on the offensive end to end up also missing both free throws at the line.
Alabama capitalized and hit their free throws. Shakeel Moore countered by driving to the paint forcing a layup, drawing the foul and having a chance to cut into the lead. He goes on to miss both of his free throws as well.
Six points left at the line and each miss was as crushing as the next.
Defensively, the Bulldogs were as stout as they normally are. A couple of missed opportunities on missed rotations allowed the Tide to strike on a couple of open threes.
Alabama (11-5, SEC 3-0) has one of the most prolific offensives in the SEC coming into this game averaging close to 91 points, and yet, MSU was able to match them on both ends of the floor.
Their effort wasn't enough and those free throws will be ringing through the minds of the players for the next couple of days.
MSU will return and be on the road against No. 6 Kentucky on Wednesday ( 6 p.m. CT on ESPN 2).
