No. 11 Alabama Basketball Overcomes Midgame Slump to Defeat South Dakota State

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — It was all Alabama early on, till it wasn’t.

The No. 11 Crimson Tide got here away with a 78-65 victory over the South Dakota State Jackrabbits Saturday evening, however in a really unconventional manner.

Alabama hit 9 of its first 15 3-pointers to open the sport, taking a 37-17 lead within the first half behind 4 3-point makes from freshman Noah Clowney and three from junior Mark Sears.

Clowney obtained off to the most popular begin of anybody on the court docket, making 4 of his first 5 photographs from distance getting him nicely on his option to his career-high 22 factors, which led Alabama for the sport. 

“We all know [Clowney] could make them,” Alabama head coach Oats mentioned. “He is making them in observe. We recruited him as a shooter and he shot it fairly nicely in highschool. Hopefully this’ll get his confidence going so he can stretch the ground for us just a little bit.”

After Sears put the Crimson Tide forward by 20 within the first half, the Jackrabbits reduce it all the way down to eight by halftime. Within the second half, South Dakota State took a one-point lead after a flurry of inauspicious makes from mid-range and downtown alike, however Alabama’s protection tightened up down the stretch en path to the 13-point win.

“I feel a extra mature group does not have the defensive letdown we had,” Oats mentioned. “However, we did present sufficient character after giving up the result in get it again. I would not name them immature however we’ve got some room to develop.”

Clowney made a robust affect on the defensive finish as nicely, drawing 4 fees within the recreation. Sears scored 19 within the recreation, and freshman phenom Brandon Miller added 16 together with three 3-point makes.

The Crimson Tide, now 7-1 on the season, will get every week off earlier than taking a highway journey to No. 1 Houston subsequent Saturday for a 2 p.m. CT tipoff. The sport can be televised on ABC.

Dwell Updates

(most up-to-date replace on the high)

Second Half

• FINAL: Alabama 78, South Dakota State 65

• SDSU takes a timeout with 1:05 remaining. Alabama leads 74-63.

• Bradley misses a shot within the lane however suggestions his personal miss in. Alabama leads 70-58 with just below three minutes remaining.

• Clowney hits his fifth three of the sport to push the Alabama result in 67-58 on the under-4 timeout.

• Burnett throws down a slam over a Jackrabbit defender to place Alabama forward 63-58.

• Clowney attracts his third cost of the sport bringing the under-8 timeout. Alabama leads 59-55.

• Two Burnett free throws push the Alabama result in 56-53.

• Clowney breaks a 6-minute scoring drought with a free throw to tie the sport at 51.

• On the under-12 timeout SDSU has taken a 51-50 lead after the groups’ sixth 3-point make of the sport. 

• SDSU breaks an almost four-minute scoring drought for each groups. Alabama leads 50-48.

• On the under-16 timeout Alabama holds a slim 50-46 lead.

• Sears stops the SDSU run with a 3. Alabama leads 48-42.

• SDSU responds with a 5-0 run and has reduce the lead all the way down to 45-40.

• Miller opens the second half with a 3-pointer. Alabama leads 45-35. 

Halftime stats:

First Half

• HALFTIME: Alabama leads South Dakota State 42-35. Clowney leads Alabama with 14 factors, adopted by Sears with 12.

• Sears stops the Jackrabbit run with a contact and-one within the lane. Alabama leads 42-32.

• South Dakota State has reduce the lead again all the way down to 10 with three minutes to play.

• Oats calls timeout after an 8-0 run from the Jackrabbits. Alabama leads 37-25 with 4:26 to go within the first half.

• On the under-8 timeout, Alabama leads 37-17 after three straight 3-point makes from Sears. Alabama is now 9-15 from past the arc.

• Sears scores his first factors of the sport off a 3-pointer as nicely. Alabama leads 31-15.

• Miller’s first factors of the sport come off a 3-pointer. Alabama leads 24-10.

• Alabama has made 5 of its first eight 3-pointers to begin the sport with one simply coming from Rylan Griffen. Alabama leads 21-8.

• Clowney attracts a cost to convey the sport to the under-16 timeout. He leads all scorers with 12 factors, all being 3-point makes. Alabama leads 14-6.

• Clowney has hit three 3-pointers in a row to begin the sport. Alabama leads 9-2. 

• Alabama solutions instantly with a 3-pointer from Clowney. Alabama leads 3-2.

• SDSU will get on the board first with a mid-range floater to steer 2-0.

Pregame

• Tonight’s officers are Terry Oglesby, Okay.B. Burdett Jr. and Orlandis Poole. 

• Alabama will use the identical beginning 5 it has utilized in each recreation this season: Mark Sears, Nimari Burnett, Brandon Miller, Noah Clowney and Charles Bediako.

• Alabama freshman ahead Noah Clowney is dressed out and warming up after leaving the North Carolina recreation final Sunday with a again harm. 

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