In the game of the night in the college basketball world, No. 4 Alabama outlasted No. 14 Mississippi State 88-84 and got a big-time SEC road win. 

The Crimson Tide improved to 18-3 overall and 7-1 in SEC play. Mississippi State fell to 16-5 (4-4 SEC) with the loss.

Alabama had one of its best games of the season from the three-point line, going 15-of-31 (48.4%) from deep. It was well above the season average of 32.5% from three.

Chris Youngblood played his best game in an Alabama uniform, scoring 23 points and knocking down seven three-pointers. It was a season high for Youngblood in points and three-pointers in a game. 

Mark Sears (17 points, nine assists) and Grant Nelson (15 points, seven rebounds) played well down the stretch and helped Alabama hang on for the win.

Mississippi State shot an even 50% from the field, but the 32% from three-point range and 62.5% from the free-throw line proved to be costly. Mississippi State is now 1-4 against ranked conference opponents, something to keep an eye on down the stretch.

Even though his team took the loss, Josh Hubbard was the best player on the court for either team. He scored a career-high 38 points and single-handedly kept the Bulldogs in the game.

KeShawn Murphy scored 18 points off the bench and was the only other Mississippi State player in double figures.

Alabama continues to prove it can come away with a hard-fought road battle as the Tide have now defeated Kentucky, Texas A&M and Mississippi State on the road.

Mississippi State continues to struggle with ranked competition, and it is certainly an issue that will need to be addressed throughout the remainder of the season.