INSTANT ANALYSIS: Alabama suffers another road loss to Vanderbilt
Memorial Gymnasium continued to be a house of horrors for the Alabama basketball team, even as it came in riding its biggest high of the season. After starting SEC play with an upset of over Texas A&M last week, Alabama was brought back down to earth Tuesday night, falling 76-75 to Vanderbilt.
The loss dropped Alabama to 9-5 (1-1 in the SEC), while Vanderbilt improved to 6-8 (1-1). It marked another poor road performance in Nashville, Tenn., where Alabama is just 1-14 since 1990.
After limiting the Aggies to 2 of 21 from the 3-point line last game, Alabama struggled to defend Vanderbilt from long range. The Commodores made 10 of 25 shots (40 percent) from beyond the arc. Saben Lee led Vanderbilt with 23 points, while Jeff Roberson had 17 points and five rebounds. Matthew Fisher-Davis did not start the game due to illness but contributed 11 points and three 3-pointers off the bench for the Commodores.
Down by as many as 15 points in the second half, Alabama battled back late and even had a shot to win it at the buzzer. However, a half-court shot from Collin Sexton at the buzzer capped off a frustrating defeat for the Crimson Tide.
Here are some notes from Tuesday night’s game:
Tide's top performers
Sexton did his best to lead the comeback, recording a game-high 24 points and five assists to go with three rebounds. The freshman shot 8 of 14 from the floor and 7 of 7 from the free-throw line.
Forward Donta Hall put together a solid game down low, scoring 14 points and pulling down six rebounds. Hall was a perfect 6 of 6 from the court on the night. Forwards Braxton Key and Dazon Ingram both had nine points and 6 rebounds apiece.
It was over when
Sexton’s desperation 3-point attempt hit off the backboard as the regulation buzzer sounded. The freshman’s heave came after a missed free-throw from Roberson with 3 seconds remaining as Alabama looked to complete a late comeback.
Down 74-65 with 1:41 left on the clock, Alabama put on a full-court press, forcing three turnovers to go on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 74-73 with 46 seconds remaining. After Vanderbilt extended the lead to 76-73, Sexton drove into the lane for a layup to cut the deficit back down to one with six seconds remaining.
Next up
Alabama will look to bounce back from the loss as it travels to Georgia (9-3, 0-1) on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT on SEC Network. Last season Alabama split with Georgia, beating the Bulldogs 80-60 in Athens, Ga., before losing 60-55 in Tuscaloosa, Ala., later in the year. Georgia is led by senior forward Yante Maten (6-foot-8, 240 pounds) who averages 19.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
Saturday’s game will come two days before Alabama and Georgia square off in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in Atlanta.
