Tide Prevails Over 16th-ranked Vanderbilt in Overtime Thriller
3/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By: Tyler Roberts
UA Media Relations
TUSCALOOSA- The University of Alabama basketball team concluded its regular season with an overtime thriller, knocking off the 16th-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores 78-73 at Coleman Coliseum Saturday afternoon. Senior Mykal Riley took over in the extra period, scoring Alabama’s first 13 points including three shots from behind to arc to put the game away for the Tide.
“Our team has played hard all year long,” head coach Mark Gottfried said. “Our guys played really hard today. They always do. Their attitude has also been great and that contributed to our win today. This was a great team win for us.”
Vanderbilt was able to battle back from an eight point halftime deficit in large part because of Alabama’s cold shooting to begin the second frame. The Tide missed its first nine shots from three-point range before Alonzo Gee broke the ice with 7:29 remaining in the game.
Alabama was holding on to a three point lead in the closing seconds before Vanderbilt freshman A.J. Ogilvy put in a fastbreak layup and was fouled by Riley with 21 seconds remaining. Ogilvy made the free throw to send the game into overtime.
“Today is a new number one memory for me,” Riley said. “I made a stupid play in regulation and was able to come back in overtime. We were able to make a lot of defensive stops towards the end today. We played good defense. We contested shots and then we were able to make some plays on the offensive end.”
Riley led all scorers with 26 points in his final game at Coleman Coliseum. He also grabbed 10 rebounds as he and Richard Hendrix both posted double-doubles. Hendrix finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds despite being hobbled by a sore ankle. Gee added 16 points and came up with five steals.
Alabama finished the game shooting 42 percent (25-60) from the field and 41 percent (9-22) from beyond the arc. The Commodores went 38 percent (26-68) and 28 percent from deep.
Alabama took a 38-30 lead into halftime, the largest lead for either team in the first frame. The Tide shot 50 percent from the floor before intermission and converted 12-15 free throws, while holding Vanderbilt to 35 percent shooting. Hendrix and Gee had eight points each to lead Alabama in the first half.
Shan Foster led Vanderbilt with 21 points, 16 of which came in the second half and overtime. Ogilvy contributed 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Ross Neltner chipped in 13 points for the Commodores.
The Tide’s next stop will be at the SEC tournament in Atlanta, Ga. on Thursday, March 13. Alabama could be looking at a rematch with Vanderbilt or a game against Florida depending on the outcome of the Auburn vs. Arkansas game.
If Auburn loses, then Alabama will be the fifth-seed in the west and play against Florida. If the Tigers win, the Tide slips to the sixth-seed and will face Vanderbilt again.
