🏀 Alabama Men’s Basketball Claims 68-56 Win Over Missouri

[UA Press Release]

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama returns to Tuscaloosa for its lone home contest in the current four-game stretch when it hosts the Missouri Tigers on Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT. It's the first of two games between the teams, as Alabama makes the return trip to Columbia, Mo., on Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network.

Missouri and Alabama will meet for just the 11th time in program history and the sixth time as conference rivals Wednesday night. The Tide has won three straight games over the Tigers and leads the all-time series 7-3 entering the contest. Alabama has never lost to Missouri in Tuscaloosa, owning a 4-0 edge in Coleman Coliseum.

Wednesday's game will have a couple of events surrounding it. First, Alabama will honor the 1986-87 team at halftime. That year's team finished 26-4 and a final ranking of No. 9 in the nation, on their way to winning the SEC regular season and tournament titles. Additionally, the Alabama coaching staff will wear green ties and lapel pins Wednesday night as it has joined Coaching For Literacy to help generate awareness in the fight for Literacy.

Wednesday's game will be televised on ESPNU with Kevin Fitzgerald (play-by-play) and Kyle Macy (analyst) on the call. Fans can listen to the radio broadcast on the Crimson Tide Sports Network as Chris Stewart (play-by-play) and Bryan Passink (analyst) will call all the action. Live stats for the contest can accessed through RollTide.com, while in-game updates and photos will be made available on Twitter on @AlabamaMBB



HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN

RADIO: Crimson Tide Sports Network

TV: ESPN2

LIVE STATS: Basketball Live Stats

SOCIAL MEDIA: @AlabamaMBB



PROMOTIONS

Halftime: Recognition of 1986-87 SEC Champion Basketball Team

Coaching for Literacy Game



WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Wednesday's contest marks the fourth straight game Missouri has played at Alabama. The Tide's last appearance in Columbia, Mo., came on Jan. 18, 2014.
• Alabama won for the fifth time in its last six games when it captured an 81-66 victory at LSU on Saturday. The Tide ended the game on a 30-12 run over the final 7:53 to claim its third consecutive road victory.
• With the win at LSU, Alabama has now claimed its first two SEC road games of the year. The last time the Tide opened the season with two consecutive road victories came during the 2005-06 season when it began with wins at Auburn (56-52) and at Kentucky (68-64).
• In SEC play, Alabama leads the league in rebounding margin at +10.8. The Tide is averaging a league-best 42.8 rebounds per game, while allowing opponents just 32.0 rebounds a contest, which is second-best in the conference.
• Alabama is a perfect 9-0 when holding teams to fewer than 62 points, but falls to 1-6 when allowing the opposition to score more than 62.
• The Tide boasts 10 players averaging double-figure minutes per game, with nine of those players averaging between 5.1 points and 10.2 points per contest.
• Alabama comes into Tuesday's game holding opponents to 62.6 points per game, which ranks second in the SEC and 19th in the nation. Alabama also ranks among the nation's top 50 in rebound margin (32nd, +6.3), blocked shots (44th, 5.0) and field goal percentage defense (47th, .402).
• A pair of freshman lead the Tide. Forward Braxton Key tops Alabama in scoring (10.2 ppg), rebounding (5.7 rpg) and minutes (27.0 mpg). Guard Dazon Ingram is second in scoring (9.6 ppg), 3-point shooting (.389) and minutes (26.7 mpg), and leads UA in assists (3.9 apg), steals (1.1 spg).
• Alabama will next begin a two-game road swing when it travels to take on in-state rival Auburn on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN2.

SCOUTING MISSOURI

• Alabama leads the all-time series with Missouri, 7-3. The Tide is 4-0 against Missouri in Tuscaloosa and has won three straight games over the Tigers.

• Now in his third season leading the Mizzou men's basketball program, head coach Kim Anderson owns a record of 24-55. Now in his 15th season as a head coach, Anderson boasts a career coaching record of 298-151.

• Mizzou is once again cultivating a talented, but young roster during the 2016-17 season. According to KenPom.com, the Tigers rank 338th out of 351 NCAA Division I teams in terms of experience.

• Since his insertion into Mizzou's starting lineup five games ago, junior forward Jordan Barnett is averaging 16.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. He currently leads the team in scoring (12.7 ppg) and rebounding (7.1 rpg). In SEC play, Barnett ranks seventh in the SEC in scoring and rebounding with his 16.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

• Mizzou was powered through its non-conference schedule by the strong play of sophomore forward Kevin Puryear. The Blue Springs, Mo., native ranks second on the team in scoring (11.4 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg).

• In conference play, sophomore guards Terrence Phillips and Jordan Geist are averaging 14.3 and 10.3 points per game, respectively. Phillips, who is averaging 9.5 ppg on the year, also leads the team in assists (4.4 apg) and steals (1.4 spg),

• As a team, Missouri is averaging 70.8 points per game, and is outscoring teams by +0.7 points per game (70.8-70.1). The Tigers also own a slight +0.9 rebounding advantage (40.4-39.6). Mizzou has struggled on the offensive side of the ball, as the team ranks 13th in the league in scoring average and is last in both field goal percentage and three-point field goal percentage.

• Missouri probable starters (starting five from last game): Guards: Jordan Geist (6.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg), K.J. Walton (7.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg). Forwards: Jordan Barnett (12.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg), Kevin Puryear (11.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg), Rusell Woods (7.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg).



SCOUTING ALABAMA

• Alabama will play its lone home game in its current a stretch when it welcomes the Missouri Tigers on Wednesday night. It marks the first of two games played between the teams this year. Alabama will make the return trip to Columbia, Mo., on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 7:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

• Alabama has 11 players that average double-digit minutes (10 of which are active) and nine guys who average between 5.1 and 10.2 points per game. The Tide's top two scorers are both freshmen, while six of the top seven are underclassmen.

• True freshman Braxton Key, who recorded career highs of 24 points and 35 minutes against No. 23 Florida, leads the Tide in scoring (10.2 ppg), rebounding (5.7 rpg) and minutes (27.0 mpg). He also ranks second in assists (1.9 apg) and is third in three-points field goal percentage (.357).

• Redshirt freshman Dazon Ingram leads the team in assists (3.9 apg), assist-turnover ratio (1.7:1) and steals (1.1 spg), while ranking second in scoring (9.6 ppg), three-point field goal percentage (.389) and minutes (26.7 mpg).

• Sophomore center Donta Hall tops the team in field goal percentage (.698), while ranking second in blocks (1.6 bpg) and rebounding (5.4 rpg). Graduate senior Corban Collins, who missed two games (Arkansas State and Stetson) with a groin injury, is third in scoring (8.4 ppg) and leads the Tide in three-point field goal percentage (.407).

• As a team, Alabama is outscoring the competition by 5.4 points per game (67.8-62.4) and outrebounding opponents by 6.5 rebounds per game (39.0-32.5). The Tide is shooting .427 from the field and .314 from beyond the arc as a team. Alabama leads the SEC and ranks 32nd nationally in rebounding margin. In addition, the Tide ranks second in the league and 19th in the nation in scoring defense.



ALABAMA-MISSOURI - SERIES NOTES

• Alabama and Missouri will square off for the first of two meetings this season. Wedensday's game will be the sixth meeting between the two teams as SEC rivals and 11th contest overall in the series history.

• The Tide owns a 7-3 edge in the all-time series, with the Tide having won three straight games over the Tigers. Alabama has never lost to Missouri in Tuscaloosa, owning a 4-0 edge in Coleman Coliseum.

• Wednesday's contest will mark the fourth straight time the Tigers have players the Tide in Tuscaloosa. Alabama's last appearance in Columbia, Mo., came on Jan. 18, 2014.

• Six of the 10 games played between the two teams have been decided by less than 10 points.



ALABAMA-LSU: AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE NUMBERS

• What Won The Game For UA: With LSU leading 54-51 with 7:33 left to play, Alabama went on a 16-2 run to take a 67-56 lead with 3:10 remaining. In fact, over the final seven-plus minutes, the Tide outscored the Tigers 30-12 to result in the final score.

• The Difference Maker: Corban Collins. The graduate transfer, who played his freshman year for head coach Johnny Jones at LSU, scored 24 points on a career-high seven three-pointers. In fact, Collins hit five treys and scored 18 of his points over the final 20 minutes, helping the Tide to a season high 53 second half points.

• The Wow Stat: Alabama finished the game 10-of-28 from beyond the arc. However, Collins (7-of-11) and Riley Norris (3-of-7) combined to shoot 10-of-18 (.556), while the rest of the team went a combined 0-of-10 from beyond the arc.

• Coach Avery Johnson Quote: "Tonight, especially in the second half, we did a good job of taking care of the ball. We got our defense set and executed. I thought overall we did a great job on (Antonio) Blakeney. We ran about three different defenses in the second half, changing it up and giving them different looks. Then this man right here, Corban Collins, our fifth year graduate student, was unbelievable. He made shots for us and kept us calm. When he got banged up a little bit in the last game, it hurt us because we need him in the game. I'm really proud of our team."



NEWCOMERS MAKING AN IMPACT

• Including Dazon Ingram who is a redshirt freshman, the Crimson Tide welcomed seven newcomers who are currently playing in Avery Johnson's 10-man rotation to begin the season

• Four of the team's top five scorers five of the top eight were either redshirts or were not on the team a year ago.

• The seven newcomers are combining to average 46.9 of Alabama's 68.6 points per game – approximately 69 percent of the team's total scoring output.

• The group is also dishing out 79 percent of the Tide's assists (153 of the team's 194 total assists) and pulling down 60 percent of the team's boards (23.5 of UA's 39.1 total rebounding average).

 

[TerryP]

Wednesday's game will have a couple of events surrounding it. First, Alabama will honor the 1986-87 team at halftime.

xCMG will be in Coleman tonight. How do you think he'll be received?

 

[RTB X Bot]

 

[alabama mike]

xCMG will be in Coleman tonight. How do you think he'll be received?

Personally, I think CMG will be received well overall by the fans in attendance.

• Alabama has 11 players that average double-digit minutes (10 of which are active) and nine guys who average between 5.1 and 10.2 points per game. The Tide's top two scorers are both freshmen, while six of the top seven are underclassmen.

IMO, this shows we do not have that one, main player but many that are contributing good minutes and points. I have said several times this year, I just want to see continued improvement with this years team. Hopefully, we catch a hot streak and play well down the stretch.

 

[UAgrad93]

xCMG will be in Coleman tonight. How do you think he'll be received?

I would imagine a mixed crowd. Those that appreciate what he accomplished for UA or really don't care will cheer. Those that know what went down and how, will boo.
I would expect a Verne Lundquist response.

 

[RTB X Bot]

 

[TerryP]

Personally, I think CMG will be received well overall by the fans in attendance.

I would imagine a mixed crowd. Those that appreciate what he accomplished for UA or really don't care will cheer. Those that know what went down and how, will boo.
I would expect a Verne Lundquist response.

If I'm part of the staff handling this for UA, I'm introducing the team as a whole and not going member by member. I can easily see a lot of applause for Wimp, and the opposite reaction xCMG.

 

[alabama mike]

Maybe the introductions will inspire play from the "Plaid Palace."

 

[TerryP]

Bama is giving 13... oh, is this easy money?

 

[TerryP]

 

[TerryP]

Goode Foundation – Support. Assist. Cure. ALS!

 

[TheChief]

Basketball needs to go 9-4 to finish with 20 wins in the regular season. The Tide plays Georgia twice and Kentucky once.

 

[TheChief]

...and South Carolina once.

 

[PurlJam]

I would imagine a mixed crowd. Those that appreciate what he accomplished for UA or really don't care will cheer. Those that know what went down and how, will boo.
I would expect a Verne Lundquist response.

Vern - " Here is Alabama guard from 86-87, Gilbert Gottfried"

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Vern - " Here is Alabama guard from 86-87, Gilbert Gottfried"

 

[UAgrad93]

Vern - " Here is Alabama guard from 86-87, Gilbert Gottfried"

I was thinking more along the lines of the response Verne received at the last home game against the Barn when Tony Giles announced his retirement from CBS. There was some golf clapping along with smatterings of boos throughout the 101k crowd.

 

[UA Press Release]

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama men's basketball team won a 68-56 decision over the Missouri Tigers on Wednesday night in Coleman Coliseum. Junior forward Riley Norris and sophomore guard Avery Johnson Jr. led the team with 13 points each, as the Crimson Tide saw four players finish in double-figures.

The win marks the first time Alabama (11-7, 4-1 SEC) has started conference play with a 4-1 mark since the 2012-13 campaign. The Tide has now claimed six wins in its last seven games entering this weekend's contest.

"Well tonight this was another game, back-to-back games, where we were really efficient on the offensive end," head coach Avery Johnson said. "I thought we were pretty good defensively in the first half, but our defense slipped in the second half. I thought this was another game where we saw the potential for us to become a balanced basketball team. So, I am proud of our guys for the way we moved the ball. The ball was just moving. We weren't just standing around. They weren't looking at me trying to get a play call. We were ready to shoot. We took quality shots in the second half, both inside and outside of the three-point line."

The game started slowly with neither team breaking 30 points in the first half. Alabama took an early 7-2 lead at the first media timeout. The Tide used a quick 6-0 spurt to take a 13-5 lead with 11:59 left in the half, before going cold and making just two of its next 15 shots. With 7:28 to play, Alabama still held a 15-10 lead. The teams exchanged baskets down the stretch, and the Tide took a seven-point lead, 26-16, into the locker room.

Alabama held Missouri to just 30 percent from the field in the first half while making 33 percent of its shots. The Tide doubled the Tigers in the paint, 12-6, and outscored them in points off turnovers, 8-0. The Tide held a 23-17 advantage in rebounding, highlighted by a 9-3 advantage on the offensive glass.

Alabama used a 22-12 run over the first 8:38 of the half to take a 48-34 lead with11:22 to play. Missouri never got any closer than 10 points the rest of the way, as the Tide cruised to its seventh home victory of the year.

The teams dramatically improved their shooting in the second half with, Alabama finishing the half at 56 percent from the field and Missouri at 50 percent.

Alabama never trailed in the contest and is now a perfect 10-0 when holding teams to fewer than 62 points. Alabama won the rebounding battle 39-31 with a 14 offensive boards to the Tigers' five. The Tide has now won the rebounding battle in all five of its SEC games this season.

Redshirt freshman Dazon Ingram (12 points) and freshman Braxton Key (11 points), joined Johnson Jr. and Norris in double figures. Senior Jimmie Taylor added six points and nine rebounds off the bench.

Missouri was led by Terrence Phillips who led all scorers with 16 points and seven assists.

Alabama will head to Auburn to take on the rival Tigers on Saturday afternoon. The game is set to air on ESPN2 at 3 p.m. CT.

 

[TerryP]

 

[alabama mike]

How was the crowed reaction to the team in general and xCMG in particular? @TerryP

 

[TUSKtimes]

Mark must have a ton of respect for Wimp and Bama to even show up for such an event. That took a lot of courage and a lot of pride in your playing career to pull that off and I sincerely congratulate Mark for the effort.