The No. 4 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide remained perfect in SEC play, defeating LSU 79-69. The win at LSU brought their SEC record to a perfect 10-0 while extending their overall record to 20-3. The 20 wins exceed last season's win total of 19, with eight more games left in the season. It is also the second time the Crimson Tide has eclipsed the 20-win mark under Nate Oats in three years. The other time Alabama had surpassed the 20-win mark, they won both the SEC regular season and conference tournament titles, ending the season in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
With Alabama's leading scorer, Brandon Miller, struggling from the field and battling foul trouble, the Tide had to rely on others to step up. Five Alabama players finished the game in double figures, including Miller, who had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Noah Clowney provided Alabama with offense in the first half scoring nine of his 14 points in the first 20 minutes. Mark Sears delivered the offense in the second half scoring 11 of his 13 total points in the last 20 minutes and hitting three of his five three-point attempts.
Alabama received a big boost off their bench from freshman Rylan Griffen. Griffen tied Clowney with a team-high 14 points, coming through in clutch spots and hitting baskets to slow LSU's momentum. This is now the third game in a row that Griffen has scored in double figures.
Griffen wasn't the only Crimson Tide player to provide a spark off the bench. Nimari Burnett provided 13 points off the bench, the second game in a row he has scored in double figures. After breaking his wrist in December, causing him to miss nine games, Burnett appears to be back to full strength as his playing time has increased over the past few games. The timing of Burnett's reemergence is coming at just the right time to help Alabama down the final stretch of the regular season and into March.
Alabama will return home to face the Florida Gators on February 8, looking to remain undefeated in the SEC.
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