Alabama
Middle Tennessee State
Dudley Leads Tide Past Blue Raiders, 80-65
11/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Chris Woodfin
Preseason All-American Erwin Dudley picked up his first double-double of the season, scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, to lead No. 4 ranked (AP) Alabama (3-0) past Middle Tennessee (0-2) by a score of 80-65. The victory pushed the Tide's home winning streak to 21, one win shy of the school record.
Dudley led four Alabama players in double figure scoring. Also scoring in double digits were Mo Williams (14), Kenny Walker (14), and newcomer Emmett Thomas, who played his best game of the season scoring 12 points, including hitting four of six from three-point range.
"I didn't come in wanting to score a certain amount of points," Thomas said. "I just want to help the team and help the seniors have a good season. I just play defense and go out and play hard. I'll do whatever the team needs."
On offense, the Tide shot 46 percent from the floor, and picked up a season high 16 assists.
Alabama's defense held Middle Tennessee to 38 percent shooting floor, forced a season high 21 turnovers and blocked a season high six shots.
Alabama head coach Mark Gottfried was pleased with the Tide's defense.
"It (defense) gave us some easy baskets, which we needed," Gottfried said. "What will dictate how good our team can become is how well we defend all over the floor. On the perimeter, right now we've got a number of guys who are stepping up and playing. I think on the interior, on the inside, we still need some guys, as far as depth is concerned, to step in there. I though Evan (Brock) played well. I thought Chuck Davis got in there late and did a nice job and did some good things well. Our defense will dictate how good we are this whole year."
The Blue Raiders were led by Steven Jackson who scored 15 points on the night. Also contributing for Middle Tennessee State were Tommy Gunn, who scored 14 points, and William Pippen, who added 10 points.
The Tide's next game is Friday night as Alabama hits the road for the Thanksgiving holiday, traveling to Springfield, Mass. to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT. The game can be seen on ESPN.
