STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) For the first time in 45 years, Alabama is the Southeastern Conference champion in football and men's basketball.



''I went in there and they dumped a bunch of water on me,'' second-year Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats said of the joyous postgame locker room. ''They were already celebrating before we got off the floor. They were fired up about it, they knew what was at stake. It's big. It doesn't happen very often.''






Quinerly's effort keyed a huge bench advantage for Alabama, which dominated Mississippi State 36-5. ... The Bulldogs made just 1 of 12 3-pointers and missed all six after halftime.


Alabama: Quinerly's scoring provided a huge boost for the Crimson Tide, who started 3 of 16 from the field and were 1 of 10 during one first-half stretch. They went cold for a while in the second but came up with several key offensive rebounds to maintain possession and run down the clock before Rojas' big 3.

Mississippi State: The Bulldogs had plenty of good looks in the first half that just didn't fall. The second half began much better and they were able to get close, but couldn't get that one key basket or stop Alabama on the glass. They also committed 16 turnovers for just 12 Alabama points, but those loomed large in a tight game.


Alabama hosts rival Auburn on Tuesday night, seeking a season sweep.

Mississippi State visits Texas A&M on Wednesday night.


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