Alabama
Chattanooga
Men's Basketball Cruises Past Chattanooga 82-63
12/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 22, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Senior Alonzo Gee scored 20 points to lead Alabama past Chattanooga, 82-63, before a crowd of 8,511 in Coleman Coliseum on Monday evening. With the win, the Crimson Tide improves to 7-3 on the season, while the Mocs drop to 2-8 overall.
"Tonight, you saw a team that is improving," said head coach Mark Gottfried. "Everyone on the team is getting better. The defensive concentration was good, and we stayed on track with what we were trying to do. This was a good win for our team."
In addition to Gee, four other Alabama players tallied double-digit points. Senior Brandon Hollinger scored 10 points while sophomores Justin Knox and Senario Hillman notched 14 and 11 for the Tide, respectively. Freshman JaMychal Green added another 10. Knox's 14 points were a career-high for the Tuscaloosa native.
"The game is becoming more comfortable for me," said Knox. "I am starting to get more opportunities offensively and taking care of my job for the team. Now that I am comfortable, it feels good to help the team get wins."
Leading the Mocs in scoring was senior Stephen McDowell with 15 points.
Chattanooga senior Nicchaeus Doaks put up the first points of the contest, but Alabama quickly responded as Green connected on a put-back dunk to even the score at 2-2. The Tide then put together an 11-3 run over the next 4:30 to pull ahead 13-5. The Mocs scored four quick unanswered points to cut the lead to four, but Alabama was too strong as it built another solid scoring run to go up by as many as 16. The Tide went into the break with a 15-point advantage at 38-23.
After Chattanooga senior Khalil Hartwell tallied the opening point of the second half, Alabama answered by scoring the next seven points to take a 21-point lead with 17:56 remaining. Chattanooga cut the deficit to 14 on two occasions, but the Tide would not allow the Mocs to get any closer. Alabama's largest lead of the night came at 4:37 when junior Yamene Coleman connected on a jumper to put the Tide in front by 22 at 72-50.
For the game, Alabama shot 50.7 percent from the floor and held Chattanooga to just 38.7 percent from the field. The Tide was dominant in the paint, outscoring the Mocs 42-28. Alabama also capitalized on points off turnovers, scoring 22 to Chattanooga's five.
Alabama returns to the hardwood Sunday, December 28, when the Crimson Tide hosts Yale in Coleman Coliseum. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (CST).
