Jean Felis

Jan. 17, 2005

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- Starting another long road winning streak won't be easy for Mississippi State.

Coming off an easy home win following their first road loss in nearly two years, the 17th-ranked Bulldogs now visit a team that has yet to lose at home this season when they face No. 22 Alabama on Tuesday night.

Mississippi State (15-3, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) had won 16 straight road games - the longest active streak in the nation - before Wednesday's 64-63 defeat at Tennessee. The Bulldogs, who began their streak following a loss to Tennessee in March 2003, bounced back with an 80-55 win over Arkansas on Saturday.

Lawrence Roberts had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Marcus Campbell added 15 points for Mississippi State, which shot 48 percent (24-of-50) and held Arkansas almost 24 points below its average. The 6-foot-9 Roberts is averaging 21.4 points and 12.1 rebounds in his last 10 games and leads all active Division I players with 47 career double-doubles.

Mississippi State was playing its second straight game without starting guard Winsome Frazier, who could miss the rest of the season with a broken left foot.

"I'm very proud of our basketball team, not just with the win, but how we won under all the circumstances," Stansbury said. "We proved something today that was a big question mark - can we win, and can we play without Winsome Frazier?"

The Bulldogs will need another strong defensive effort as Alabama (13-3, 2-1) averages just under 80 points per game and is 8-0 at Coleman Coliseum.

Mississippi State is 0-2 against ranked teams this season, losing to then-No. 5 Syracuse in New York on Nov. 18 and at home to then-No. 20 Arizona on Dec. 5.

"Alabama is one of the best teams in the country. Offensively, they can just score," Stansbury said. "They can score at all five positions. It is going to be very difficult on the road. We are looking forward to going over there."

The Crimson Tide also enter off a victory over Arkansas. Earnest Shelton scored 18 points and Chuck Davis added 17 points and nine rebounds as Alabama overcame a nine-point first-half deficit to post a 64-61 road win.

The Crimson Tide shot 48 percent (12-of-25) in the second half, when Kennedy Winston scored nine of his 13 points. Alabama made just 6-of-11 free throws, including 1-of-2 by Winston with 9.8 seconds left for the final margin.

"We found a way to execute down the stretch. We were able to put the ball in the hoop consistently," Shelton said. "This win is big for us because we had to find a way to win on the road, and we did tonight."

Shelton and Winston share the team lead with a 16.9 scoring average.

Mississippi State has won four of the last six meetings with Alabama and the last five matchups have been decided by a combined 18 points, including two overtime games.

The last time they met, Roberts had 18 points and a career-high 21 rebounds as the Bulldogs rallied from a 16-point halftime deficit for an 82-81 overtime win. That victory improved Mississippi State to just 13-67 all-time in Tuscaloosa.