Alabama Crimson Tide guard Aaron Estrada (55) embraces with guard Mark Sears (1) during the second half against the Mississippi Rebels at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss. Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama's SEC record-tying win over Ole Miss sets up huge showdown

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 2/29/24

Alabama tied a long-standing SEC record on Wednesday night as it moved into a tie for first with Tennessee ahead of the teams' massive showdown on Saturday in Tuscaloosa.

The Tide defeated Ole Miss 103-88, their ninth 100-point game of the season, tying 1995-96 Kentucky for most in SEC history.

#Alabama just tied the ‘95-‘96 Kentucky Wildcats for 1st in SEC history with nine 100 point games in a single season after winning 103-88 at Ole Miss tonight.

The Crimson Tide play a huge game for sec championship aspirations next versus Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/H9d7vJ9XLn
— Alex Boothe (@AlexBootheTV) February 29, 2024

Senior guard Mark Sears led the way with 25 points as Associated Press No. 14 Alabama (20-8, 12-3 in SEC) overcame a slow start, scoring 80 over the final 24:38, including 64 in the second half to erase a deficit that grew to as big as 14 at one point.

Alabama leads the country in scoring (91.1 points per game entering Wednesday), with its three-point shooting a significant contributor to its prolific offense.

The Tide average the second-most threes per game (11.5) and made 15 on Wednesday, with a third of those coming from seldom-used freshman guard Davin Cosby Jr., who was 5-of-10 from deep, including a couple of massive shots as Alabama broke away in the second half.

DC is stepping up!!

: ESPN2#RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketball pic.twitter.com/zQneLlqMv8
— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) February 29, 2024

️ DAVIN COSBY JR!!!!

: ESPN2#RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketball pic.twitter.com/sfjPfiiGxB
— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) February 29, 2024

Next up is a date with No. 4 Tennessee (22-6, 12-3 in SEC), which also won on Wednesday behind a 39-point effort from fifth-year senior guard Dalton Knecht.

Per Action Network, the teams are in a dead heat to win the SEC with Alabama (+110) listed as a slight favorite over Tennessee (+112).

The Volunteers handily won the first meeting between the two teams on Jan. 20, 91-71, holding the Tide to their lowest point total of the season.
However, Alabama's offense is clicking of late, averaging 95.8 points per game since that loss.

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