Alabama Basketball: Norris-led Tide exorcised Memorial demons in win

Alabama basketball got a much needed road win Nashville, beating the Vanderbilt Commodores in Memorial Gym, 77-67 Saturday night.

After Alabama basketball beat Vanderbilt Saturday night, Crimson Tide head coach, Avery Johnson said the win was big because the seniors had never won in Memorial Gym. Crimson Tide fans know it was much bigger than a milestone for the seniors.

One Crimson Tide win in Memorial Gym since 1990 made the old gym a haunted house for Alabama basketball teams. Whatever evil spirits there have been, Riley Norris exorcised them Saturday night.

Alabama basketball played well Saturday and made the contest very difficult as well. As has been the case often this season, the Crimson Tide was flat in the opening minutes. Two opening dunks by Donta Hall and Herbert Jones gave the Tide a 4-0 lead. Vandy responded with a 13-7 run to take a two-point lead at 14:27. Jumpers by Kira Lewis and Tevin Mack gave the Tide a three-point lead at 16-13.

Vandy never regained the lead but it did not stop the young Commodores from fighting throughout. The Crimson Tide led by 11 points twice in the first half and by as much as 19 points in the second half. Alabama basketball followed the big lead by scoring only three points in eight minutes of play. The Tide was plagued by turnovers and missed shots and the Dores climbed back into the game. At the 5:20 mark, the Tide lead was down to 65-60.

Down the stretch, Riley Norris took over for the Crimson Tide. Norris had three defensive rebounds over the next three minutes as the Tide held on to the lead. Fouled shooting a three at 2:13, Norris calmly made all three free throws, pushing the lead to eight. Inside the last two minutes, Norris made a three, added another free throw and another defensive rebound. Norris finished the game with 15 points, 12 rebounds and a block in 26 minutes of play.

Kira Lewis Jr. led the Alabama Crimson Tide in scoring with 18 points, two rebounds, four assists and just two turnovers. Dazon Ingram added 12 points and four rebounds. The Tide shot 50 percent from outside the arc with a season-high 12 made threes. Alabama was excellent at the foul line, making 81 percent for the game.

The win is even more impressive given the Tide’s depleted lineup of big men. Galin Smith (concussion protocol) and Alex Reese (illness) did not play. The Tide’s two remaining bigs, Donta Hall and Daniel Giddins, attempted a total of only eight shots. The pair contributed only 10 points and six rebounds. Further hampering the Tide’s offensive output, recently hot Tevin Mack made only two of ten field goal attempts.

Next up for Alabama basketball is a trip to Starkville Tuesday night. The game gives the Tide another opportunity for a resume-building win.