The University of Alabama men’s basketball team started slowly, rallied but faded in the fourth quarter as it lost the second game of its three-game Canadian tour, falling 84-71 against Carleton University on the Ravens’ home floor in Ottawa.
Alabama fell behind 11-2 at the outset and trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half. UA came back to take a brief third-quarter lead, 48-47, but Carleton, the defending Canadian University champion, pulled away in the final quarter.
“This was a game I had circled on our Canadian trip for several reasons,” Alabama coach Avery Johnson said following the game. “We needed to play against a physical team that can also stretch the floor.
“We did not rebound the ball, which is correctable with better maximum effort and execution. Offensively, we had some great moments and that’s why I’m excited about this team’s potential.”
For the second straight game, freshman John Petty led Alabama in scoring. Petty had 16 points, including 4 of 7 on 3-point attempts.
Collin Sexton added 15 points for Alabama and sophomore forward Braxton Key added 14. Sexton left the game with just under four minutes left, holding a knee after an on-court collision, but Johnson said following the game that Sexton was “fine.”
Alabama was outrebounded in the game, 44-34.
The Crimson Tide played without starting guard Dazon Ingram, who is being held out of action on this trip due to rehabilitation for a foot injury. Freshman forward Herb Jones also did not play against Carleton. Jones was elbowed in the head by a teammate in the Crimson Tide’s win over McGill University on Monday night and is being withheld from action due to concussion protocol.
Alabama will conclude its three-game Canadian swing on Thursday night, facing Ottawa University. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. CT
Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil@tidesports.com or 205-722-0225.
