Whatever spirits were in the jug the Alabama basketball team uncorked in the second half of a tough loss at No. 1 Tennessee last Saturday seemed to have some long-lasting effects.
The Crimson Tide poured it on from the outset against No. 20 Ole Miss on Tuesday night, drubbing the Rebels 74-53. The win raised Alabama’s record to 12-6, 3-3 in the Southeastern Conference.
“Tonight we were just a consistent basketball team,”Alabama coach Avery Johnson said. “There’s no magic formula. The players didn’t grow. Their hands didn’t get bigger. But we had an attitude that we refused to lose. We had five guys on the floor after a loose ball and I don’t think I’ve seen that since I’ve been at Alabama.”
Ole Miss (14-4, 4-2 SEC) took a quick lead at the outset but an 11-2 Alabama run put UA ahead 17-9 with 11:32 remaining and the Crimson Tide maintained a comfortable lead. Alabama went to the locker room with a 42-26 lead, scoring its last bucket on a Galin Smith putback as the buzzer sounded.
The second half was more of the same. Alabama opened with an 8-1 run that pushed the lead to more than 20 points. One of the Rebels’ top players, guard Terence Davis, fouled out with more than 16 minutes to play and there was no visible path to an Ole Miss comeback after that.
John Petty led Alabama with 15 points. Senior center Donta Hall recorded his 10th double-double of the season and his fourth in a row, scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. His work on the boards helped Alabama to a 44-32 rebounding advantage that included 20 offensive rebounds in the game.
“Donta’s presence tonight was good, but he needs more help,” Johnson said. “Tonight we got a couple of rebounds from (Tevin) Mack. Herb (Jones) had eight. So we got him some help.”
Smith was Alabama’s third player in double figures with 10 points.
Davis scored 10 points prior to his early exit and was the only Rebel in double figures.
“One of the best ways to defend outstanding guards like (Briein) Tyree and Davis is to make them play defense,” Johnson said. “We told our guys we were going to go right at them on the offensive end.”
Alabama returns to action Saturday when it travels to play Baylor as part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil@tidesports.com or 205-722-0225.
SCORING SUMMARY
Alabama 74, No. 20 Ole Miss 53
Ole Miss (14-4)
Olejniczak 2-4 0-0 4, T.Davis 3-7 2-4 10, Shuler 1-3 0-0 2, Tyree 4-8 0-0 9, Hinson 2-6 0-0 5, Stevens 3-5 0-0 7, Naylor 0-1 0-0 0, Buffen 0-4 1-4 1, D.Davis 1-4 1-2 3, Halums 2-6 0-0 5, Rodriguez 2-2 3-4 7. Totals 20-50 7-14 53.
Alabama (12-6)
Hall 3-5 5-6 11, Ingram 4-9 0-0 9, Lewis 2-8 2-2 7, Jones 2-7 4-6 8, Mack 1-4 2-2 4, Smith 4-7 2-4 10, Barnes 0-1 0-0 0, Reese 1-4 0-0 3, A.Johnson 0-3 0-0 0, Petty 6-10 0-0 15, Schaffer 0-1 0-0 0, B.Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Norris 2-6 2-2 7. Totals 25-65 17-22 74.
Halftime: Alabama 42-26. 3-Point Goals: Ole Miss 6-20 (T.Davis 2-5, Hinson 1-2, Stevens 1-2, Halums 1-2, Tyree 1-3, Naylor 0-1, Buffen 0-1, D.Davis 0-2, Shuler 0-2), Alabama 7-22 (Petty 3-6, Ingram 1-3, Lewis 1-3, Norris 1-3, Reese 1-4, Mack 0-1, A.Johnson 0-2). Fouled Out: T.Davis. Rebounds: Ole Miss 28 (Olejniczak, Stevens 6), Alabama 38 (Hall 10). Assists: Ole Miss 6 (Tyree 2), Alabama 8 (Jones, Norris 2). Total Fouls: Ole Miss 20, Alabama 16. Technicals: T.Davis.
