Arkansas-Alabama highlights weekend's SEC men's hoops action

Updated Jan. 15, 2021 4:01 a.m. ET

Associated Press

A look at the first full weekend around the Southeastern Conference:

GAME OF THE WEEKEND

Arkansas at Alabama. The Crimson Tide (10-3, 5-0 SEC) stands alone atop the league standings after an

PLAYER TO WATCH

Sharife Cooper, PG, Auburn. The freshman has instantly become the Tigers' best player after missing the first 11 games before being cleared to play by the NCAA. He had 26 points and nine assists in

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

has a slight edge over Vanderbilt's Scotty Pippen Jr. for the league's scoring lead. Thomas is averaging 21.8 points, Pippen 21.6. ... Kentucky's 20-point loss to Alabama was the Wildcats' largest home defeat since a 75-52 loss to Indiana on Dec. 20, 1988. ... Auburn's 95 points against Georgia was the most the Tigers have scored in regulation in an SEC game since beating LSU, 95-70, on Jan. 27, 2018. ... LSU has put together two straight dominating first-half performance. LSU took a 51-31 lead into halftime against Arkansas and led Mississippi 39-21 at the half. ... Florida outscored Mississippi 20-2, including the last 14 points, to rally from a nine-point deficit in the final six-plus minutes.

ON THE WOMEN’S SIDE

No. 14 Mississippi State is set to visit seventh-ranked Texas A&M in the Aggies' second straight big Sunday showdown. The Aggies entered the week fresh from a dramatic win over No. 17 Arkansas, winning 74-73 on

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