TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - Rodney Cooper had 20 points and 10 rebounds and Trevor Releford scored 17 to lift streaking Alabama to a 64-56 victory over Mississippi State on Wednesday night.
The Crimson Tide (18-8, 10-3 Southeastern Conference) finished a lackluster second half strong to claim its fourth straight victory. Alabama also closed the gap on SEC-leading Florida (11-2) after the fifth-ranked Gators lost to Missouri Tuesday night.
The Bulldogs (7-18, 2-11) cut a 13-point second-half deficit to four points before losing their 11th consecutive game to match the 1982 team for the second-longest skid in program history.
Cooper was 7-of-10 shooting. Releford had five assists and five steals. Alabama's Trevor Lacey had 11 points before fouling out.
Jalen Steele returned from a three-game suspension for violating team rules to fuel the comeback attempt and score 15 points. Colin Borchert had 14 points and nine rebounds for Mississippi State, which committed 23 turnovers.
