Bama Hosts Texas Pan-American on Wednesday
12/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
TUSCALOOSA ?? Round two action finds the Crimson Tide at home again on Wednesday night in the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Classic. The University of Alabama basketball team plays host to The University of Texas Pan-American at 7 p.m. CT in Coleman Coliseum.
The game marks the first time these two teams have played one another.
Tickets are available and are on sale through the Athletic Ticket box office. Tickets can be purchased online through the Crimson Tide's official website, www.rolltide.com, by calling 1-877-TIDETIX or 205-348-BAMA (2262). They can also be purchased at the door. Alabama is offering a special family-friendly ticket package for its upcoming games against Texas Pan-American, George Washington, Clemson and Chicago State. With the "Family Holiday Special," fans can purchase four tickets to a single game for a total of $20. Each additional ticket above the four purchased to the game is $5. Single game tickets are $12 for Alabama's non-conference and $8 for kids 18 and under.
Alabama is one of eight teams competing in the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Classic and is hosting the first two of a guaranteed four games in the event. Alabama defeated Wofford 80-73 at home on Monday night. Following Wednesday night's home game, Alabama hits the road to Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., to play Missouri State at 7 p.m. CT in the third round on December 22 and then will play either Purdue or Iowa State on December 23.
The Crimson Tide is 6-3 coming into the game. The Broncs are 6-7 after a 64-53 loss at Missouri State on Monday. Other match-ups in the event where the first and second round games are played at campus sites find Wofford at Purdue, Bethune Cookman at Missouri State and Texas Southern at Iowa State.
"They are very athletic from what I've seen watching them on film," said Alabama head coach Mark Gottfried of his next opponent, Texas Pan-American. "Their perimeter players are excellent. They are an excellent foul shooting team. They are quick and they've got some guys that can score inside and outside. So, after watching them on tape, hopefully we have a handle on what they do, and we just need to do a good job guarding them."
Alabama goes into the game led by Richard Hendrix who is averaging 18.8 points and 10.8 rebounds. The junior power forward from Athens leads the Southeastern Conference in rebounding and ranks seventh in the NCAA in that stat. Junior guard Alonzo Gee, who has scored 20 points in back-to-back games now, including the 21 he had Monday to lead Alabama's win against Wofford, is averaging 15.6 points and 7.7 rebounds, and, joining the pair in double digit scoring averages is senior guard Mykal Riley who is averaging 14.0 points and 4.0 rebounds. Alabama's other two probable starters will include Birmingham sophomore forward Demetrius Jemison who is averaging 7.7 points and 4.8 rebounds and has shot 60 percent or better from the field in six of Alabama's nine games, including the last three games, and freshman point guard Rico Pickett. The Decatur native is averaging 5.0 points and 2.7 assists.
Texas Pan-American is led by 6-foot-3 senior forward Brian Burrell who averages 15.3 points and 4.9 rebounds and 6-foot-7 senior center Zach Trader who averages 15.0 points and 5.3 rebounds. Two other starters average in double digits in scoring, including Paul Stroll at 11.1 points to go with 6.9 assists a game, and sophomore guard Nathan Hawkins, the nephew of Basketball Hall of Fame member George Gervin. Hawkins averages10.6 points and 4.5 rebounds.
