Who Won the Alabama Crimson Tide Game: The Truth About the Starkville Comeback

Who Won the Alabama Crimson Tide Game: The Truth About the Starkville Comeback

So, you’re looking to find out who won the Alabama Crimson Tide game, and honestly, it depends on which "Tide" you’re tracking. If you’re checking the scores from Tuesday night, January 13, 2026, the Alabama men's basketball team just pulled off a monster road win against Mississippi State. They walked into a hostile Humphrey Coliseum and walked out with a 97-82 victory.

It wasn't exactly a walk in the park. Not at all.

Early on, it looked like Nate Oats and his squad were in for a long, miserable night in Starkville. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 14-point lead in the first half. Fans were already starting to write the post-game obituaries on social media. But then, things got weird—in a good way for Bama.

The Labaron Philon Jr. Show in Starkville

The biggest reason Alabama took this one home? Labaron Philon Jr. He was absolutely unconscious. The sophomore dropped a career-high 32 points, and 20 of those came in a second-half blitz that basically sucked the air out of the building.

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Alabama was short-handed. They only had eight scholarship players available. No Latrell Wrightsell Jr. No Taylor Bol Bowen. The rotation was tight, and the legs should have been heavy. Instead, the Tide finished the game on a staggering 83-53 run after falling behind 29-14.

  • Final Score: Alabama 97, Mississippi State 82
  • Key Performer: Labaron Philon Jr. (32 PTS, 10-18 FG)
  • Support Crew: Aiden Sherrell added a career-best 22 points.
  • Double-Double: Amari Allen notched 13 points and 13 boards.

Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard did his thing with 23 points, but it just wasn’t enough to stop the wave. By the time there were eight minutes left in the game, Alabama had pushed the lead to 22 points. The "Hump" was quiet. Well, except for the "Roll Tide" chants that started breaking out from the traveling fans.

Wait, Are You Looking for the Football Result?

If you're asking about the football team, the news is a bit more "bittersweet" depending on how far back you're looking. The 2025-2026 football season just wrapped up its most recent chapter on New Year's Day.

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Alabama faced off against the No. 1 seeded Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl (a College Football Playoff Quarterfinal) on January 1, 2026. If you haven't heard the score yet, brace yourself. Indiana won that game 38-3.

It was a tough pill to swallow for Crimson Tide fans. After beating Oklahoma 34-24 in the first round of the playoffs, the offense just couldn't find the end zone against a relentless Indiana defense. That loss officially ended Bama's football season with an 11-4 record.

Why This Basketball Win Matters So Much

The reason everyone is talking about the basketball score right now is that Alabama was on a bit of a skid. They had dropped two straight SEC games to Vanderbilt and Texas. People were starting to wonder if the "Blue Collar Basketball" identity was fading.

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Winning on the road in the SEC is never easy. Doing it when you're down five key players? That’s a statement. Nate Oats mentioned after the game that the "adversity makes you better," and you could see that grit on the floor. They only turned the ball over five times all night. That is a wild stat for a team that plays as fast as they do.

What’s Next for the Tide?

If you're following the schedule, the basketball team doesn't get much of a breather. They are heading to Norman this Saturday, January 17, to take on Oklahoma.

If you want to keep up with the action, keep an eye on the injury report for Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and Taylor Bol Bowen. Getting them back would be huge for the depth, but as Philon and Sherrell showed last night, the "next man up" mentality is alive and well in Tuscaloosa.

Actionable Next Steps:

  • Watch the highlights: If you missed the second-half explosion against Mississippi State, find the condensed game replay; Philon's 20-point half is a masterclass in aggressive guard play.
  • Check the Saturday Tip-off: Alabama plays Oklahoma on January 17. Set your alerts for the afternoon window, as the Sooners are always tough at home.
  • Monitor the Bracketology: With this road win, Alabama's NET ranking is expected to jump. Keep an eye on the updated projections on Monday to see where they land in the projected NCAA Tournament seeds.