Alabama
Louisiana-Lafayette
Men's Basketball Defeats Louisiana 61-44
12/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 7, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama men's basketball team used a 15-2 second half spurt to pull away from Louisiana in en route to a 61-44 win at Coleman Coliseum Sunday. With the score 44-38 at the 9:50 mark of the second half, sophomore Senario Hillman knocked down a fade away jump shot to spark the Tide's run. Hillman and senior Alonzo Gee combined for all 15 points during the five minute stretch.
The Tide defense held the Ragin' Cajuns to only four field goals in the second half, and for the game Louisiana shot 26 percent from the field. Alabama held Louisiana without a field goal in the second half from the 11:55 mark until the 0:27 mark. During that stretch, the Tide dominated on the boards as well, out-rebounding Louisiana 19-5 over the final 11:28.
"The most important thing today was how we guarded them," head coach Mark Gottfried said. "A couple of things stood out. Andrew Steele, defensively, was as solid as ever. Senario Hillman's defense was terrific. Alonzo (Gee)'s defense as well. Our defensive numbers have been pretty good as far as what our opponents are shooting from the floor."
Alabama has given up fewer than 60 points to five of its last six opponents including four straight during the Tide's four game winning streak. This is the third game this season that the Tide has held an opponent to fewer than 50 points.
Gee and Hillman scored 18 points apiece to lead the Tide. This is Hillman's fifth straight game scoring in double figures. The sophomore scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half capped off by an emphatic dunk for the Tide's final bucket of the game. He also set a career high with eight rebounds.
"I went out and missed a couple of shots in the first half, but I knew I couldn't get down so I just kept my confidence and started making shots," Hillman said.
Senior Ronald Steele added 14 points and finished a perfect 6-6 from the foul line. Junior Yamene Coleman grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds off the bench. The Tide out-rebounded the Ragin' Cajuns 49-35. Alabama shot 39 percent from the floor and knocked down 17-22 free throws compared to 11-23 for Louisiana.
Alabama jumped out to an 11-1 lead to start the game, but Louisiana clawed back to cut the lead to 30-26 at halftime. Steele scored 12 of his 14 points and knocked down Alabama's only two three pointers of the game in the first frame to lead the Tide.
Travis Bureau made three shots from beyond the arc and scored 16 points to lead Louisiana. Chris Gradnigo added 10 points off the bench for the Ragin' Cajuns.
The Tide will put its four game winning streak on the line when the team faces off against Texas A&M on Saturday, Dec. 13 at Coleman Coliseum. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.
