The 16th ranked Alabama Crimson Tide defeated Kennesaw State 92-81 on Sunday afternoon in the Rocket City Classic in Huntsville’s Von Braun Center. The game was a homecoming for KSU coach Antoine Pettway, a former Alabama player and long time assistant coach. It would been nice to have given him his flowers at home in […]
The 16th ranked Alabama Crimson Tide defeated Kennesaw State 92-81 on Sunday afternoon in the Rocket City Classic in Huntsville’s Von Braun Center. The game was a homecoming for KSU coach Antoine Pettway, a former Alabama player and long time assistant coach. It would been nice to have given him his flowers at home in Tuscaloosa instead of at an Ice Hockey arena that holds 6,000 people 150 miles away -which was a little over half full. The Tide buried the Owls in the first half 54-28, but KSU played a fantastic second half to close the final margin. Alabama improved to 9-3 while KDU fell to 8-4 on the season.
Coach Nate Oats used a staring lineup of Labaron Philon, Aden Holloway, Amari Allen, Houston Mallette, and Aiden Sherrell. Sherrell scored the first hoop of the game, which was a sign of things to come in the half. Philon followed with a three and at the first media timeout the Tide led 7-2. Oats substituted liberally and Bama continued to pour it on. Holloway drained a couple of long range jumpers and Sherrell was dominating down low with five dunks. When Mallette hit a three right before the half the Tide took a lead of 54-26 into the locker room.
Alabama shot 19-39 for 49% in the period, including 7-18 from deep for 39% and made 9-13 at the charity stripe. The Tide had 24 rebounds with eight of those on the offensive end. Bama added 12 assists, three blocks, five steals, and committed only two turnovers. Sherrell had the biggest half of his career with 15 points on 6-7 shooting and added four rebounds and one block. Philon tossed in 11 points and had three assists and two steals. Holloway added nine points and two assists and Jalil Bethea scored eight with three rebounds and two assists. The team’s ball movement was outstanding and the 12-2 assist to turnover ratio highlighted that.
KSU made only 10-24 shots in the half for 29% with 2-12 from deep and also made 6-6 at the charity stripe. The Owls had 23 rebounds, six assists, one block, one steal, and gave the ball up eight times. RJ Johnson led the way with nine points and Braeden Lue scored six and secured seven rebounds.
The Tide sent out the same starters for the second half and things started similarly to the first. However after a three by Allen and another by Sherrell to push the lead to 60-32 with 18:25 left, the Owls caught fire. Kennesaw chipped away at the huge margin and although the game was never in doubt, Bama gave up far too many open looks and second chance buckets. Over a six minute period Alabama scored only 10 points while KSU tallied 16. The Tide, led by Holloway, made 9-10 free throws down the stretch to always keep the lead in double digits. A late run by the Owls brought them within 11 in the 92-81 game. Bama went away from feeding Sherrell in the post during the half, and the offense suffered. KSU out scored Alabama 53-38 in the stanza.
In the second half the Tide cooled off to 13-34 for 38% and only 3-13 from three point range. Bama did make 9-10 free throws. Overall Alabama shot 32-73 for 44%, 10-31 from deep for 32%, and 18-23 for 78% on free shots. The Tide had 41 rebounds, 13 offensively, 17 assists, seven blocks, eight steals, and eight turnovers. Sherrell led the team with 21 points and contributed seven rebounds, one assist, and two blocks. Philon scored 17 points with six assists, four steals, and a pair of rebounds. Holloway joined his back court mate with 17 points as well. Bethea joined the trio in double digits with 11 points, and added four rebounds, two assists, and a block. Allen keeps stuffing the stat sheet with nine points, a team leading eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal. Mallette scored only three, but was third on the team with six rebounds. Latrell Wrightsell’s shooting woes continued with a 3-14 day from the field including 0-6 from three point range. With six points, three rebounds, one assist, and one steal, Wrightsell was the winner of the hard hat award.
Kennesaw heated up to 20-35 for 57% in the second half, including 5-11 from behind the arc. The Owls made 8-12 free throws in the period. Overall KSU finished 30-69 for 44%, 7-23 from deep for 30%, 14-18 at the free throw stripe. KSU has 46 rebounds, 16 assists, four blocks, five steals, and 16 turnovers. Simeon Cole led the team with 20 points. Johnson finished with 16 and Lue totaled 12. Frankquon Sherman had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Ramona Seals had 10 points and eight rebounds.
The Tide played an outstanding first half then looked like they were ready for Christmas break in the second half. Bama had a 30 point lead at one point and lacked the killer instinct to finish off their foe in dominating fashion. The game was never in danger but it would have been nice to not be out rebounded, again, and not be out scored by 15 in the second half. Now there is one more game prior to opening SEC Play. Yale comes to Tuscaloosa next Monday the 29th for a 7 p.m. CT tipoff that will again only be available on SEC Network Plus. SEC play will begin on Saturday January 3rd at 11 a.m. in Coleman Coliseum. The game will be on ESPN.
Roll Tide
Category: General Sports
