Mississippi State basketball score vs. Alabama: Live updates from a Top 25 matchup
STARKVILLE — It's only the first game in a gauntlet of an SEC schedule, so it's far from a must win. But for Mississippi State basketball and first-year coach Chris Jans, there's palpable energy for the matchup against Alabama that hasn't surrounded the program in quite some time.
When No. 9 Alabama (10-2) strolls into Humphrey Coliseum to take on No. 20 Mississippi State, it'll mark the first ranked-vs-ranked matchup for the Bulldogs since a Jan. 26, 2019, win against Auburn.
In many ways, the schedule was built for this to be a signature moment early in Jans' tenure. The wins against Akron, Marquette, Utah and Minnesota were praiseworthy. Those wins are a big reason Mississippi State (11-1) is a top 25 NET team and well on the right side of the NCAA Tournament picture. However, those wins came away from home.
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There hasn't been a game at The Hump worth the hype of this one. Based on ticket sales, with MSU having fewer than 500 tickets available Tuesday morning, fans agree and Jans embraces that.
"We're hopeful that our fans will come out and help us," Jans told reporters Monday. "I know we're not in session with school being out, but we need the community to come out and hopefully get in the seats and help us."
Mississippi State, after suffering its first loss against Drake on Dec. 20, is coming off an extended break that Jans admits was crucial. He hoped to enter SEC play undefeated, but he felt the team was "leaking oil" coming down the stretch of nonconference play.
MSU played four games in nine days with a pair of unconvincing wins against mid-majors prior to the loss vs. Drake. Jans felt the team needed the break, which appears to have come at a perfect time heading into a marquee matchup.
"It's kind of a renewed feeling around here with the SEC upon us," Jans said. "We all know what that brings."
How to watch Mississippi State basketball vs. Alabama: TV channel, live stream
Mississippi State takes on Alabama at 8 p.m. Wednesday. The game is on SEC Network and can be streamed on the ESPN app.
Mississippi State basketball score vs. Alabama: Live updates
Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @skrajisnik3.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State basketball score vs. Alabama: Live updates
