Alabama Basketball: Tide survives itself and beats URI for 7th win
By Ronald Evans
The Alabama basketball team defeated Rhode Island and moved to 7-2 on the season. The Tide won a close game in Tuscaloosa 68-64.
Alabama basketball played poorly enough to lose a basketball game three ways on Wednesday night. In addition to the poor play, the Tide lost freshman phenom Collin Sexton for over half the game due to a freak eye injury.
Hamstrung four ways, the young Tide team found a way to gain an ugly win. How poor was ‘played poorly’? Alabama basketball made 24 turnovers that led to 26 Rhode island points. Such numbers usually mean a loss.
To make matters more difficult, the Tide missed 15 free throws, shooting only 62 percent from the foul line. Again, that is usually a deficiency that leads to a loss.
In addition, the Tide was anemic from outside the arc, shooting only 18 percent on 2-for-11.
Collin Sexton played only 17 minutes, not entering the game in the second half until there was only 5:44 left in the contest. Sexton sustained an eye injury in the first half that caused a cut and obstructed vision. After his late-game return, Rhode Island tied the game for the first and only time since the tipoff. Sexton’s response, seconds later was a drilled three to regain the lead.
How did poor play turn into an ugly win?
The Tide’s toughness and a rather blue-collar defensive mentality snatched victory from defeat. Throughout a world of trouble, the Tide worked defensively. Alabama basketball held Rhode Island to 35 percent shooting. A defensive foul is a mistake. The Tide made few defensive mistakes and Rhode Island earned only 11 free throws.
Adding to the Tide’s defensive performance was a dominating performance on the glass. Alabama basketball out-rebounded Rhode Island 50-31. Donta Hall and Dazon Ingram both claimed 14 boards for the Tide, while Daniel Giddens added six in 17 minutes of play.
The scoring was balanced for the Tide. Donta Hall led the team with 13 points, followed by John Petty and Daniel Giddens who each scored 12. Collin Sexton added 11 points and Dazon Ingram contributed 10 points. Petty, Sexton and Ingram scored 14 points down the stretch to seal the Tide victory.
In the post-game review, Avery Johnson said, “You must earn the right to win.” In a game Alabama basketball could have lost four different ways, the Tide won. Young teams and their young players will make mistakes. It is part of a team learning process. A young team that overcomes an abundance of mistakes and claws its way to victory gains more than just a win.
That is the story on a Wednesday night in T-Town.
Next: The Tide's O-Line against Clemson's front seven
Next up for Alabama basketball is a trip west. The Tide takes on the Arizona Wildcats Saturday night in Tuscon, AZ. The game is an NCAA resume building opportunity for Alabama basketball.