Alabama
Kentucky
Men's Basketball Falls to Kentucky,61-51
1/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 24, 2009
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 
TUSCALOOSA, Ala - The University of Alabama men's basketball team (12-7, 2-3 SEC) dropped its first game at home in Southeastern Conference play, falling to Kentucky (16-4, 5-0 SEC) 61-51 at Coleman Coliseum Saturday afternoon. The game was back-and-forth throughout with nine lead changes, but the Wildcats gained control down the stretch by converting 12-14 free throws in the final five minutes.
Both teams struggled to find its range offensively as Alabama shot 29 percent (17-58) from the field, its lowest percentage of the season, while Kentucky made 39 percent (19-49) of its field goal attempts.
"First thing is that you have to give Kentucky a lot of credit," head coach Mark Gottfried said. "I thought defensively they did a great job. We never really seemed to get in a great flow. We were not in a good rhythm offensively. Defensively, I think we did a pretty good job most of the game. I thought in the second half, the difference was our turnovers that gave them some easy baskets."
The Tide kept things close by hitting the offensive glass, bringing down 14 offensive rebounds that led to 15 second chance points compared to only three second chance points for the Wildcats. Alabama also forced 23 Kentucky turnovers that led to 20 points.
Freshman JaMychal Green led the Crimson Tide with a solid all-around game that included 15 points, 5 rebounds, two blocks and a steal. Green was the only Alabama player to score in double figures.
Senior Alonzo Gee finished the game with eight points snapping his streak of 16 consecutive games in double figures. The last time Gee scored fewer than 10 points was Nov. 19 against Florida A&M. Sophomore Senario Hillman chipped in nine points and made 2-3 from beyond the three-point arc.
Defense was the prevailing theme of the first half, but an Anthony Brock three-pointer as time expired gave the Tide a 25-19 lead heading into the locker room. Both teams shot less than 31 percent from the field before the break, however Alabama managed to grab eight offensive rebounds to extend several possessions.
Alabama forced the Wildcats into nine turnovers that the Tide converted into 12 points in the first frame. Gee scored all eight of his points in the first to lead the Tide.
Kentucky guard Jodie Meeks, the SEC's leading scorer, came away with 27 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead the Wildcats. Perry Stevenson added a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
"(Meeks) is a great player and a great shooter," Hillman said after guarding the Kentucky star for the majority of the game. "He made some great contested shots, and we did what we could to try and stop him."
Alabama travels to Arkansas to battle the Razorbacks on Thursday, January 29. The game will air on ESPN with coverage scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. CT.
"There is a lot of basketball left," Gottfried said. "We have the opportunity to go to Arkansas next. We've got to play well over there. Our players will bounce back. I think when you hold a team to 39 percent shooting and they turn it over 23 times you should be able to win a basketball game, but there was not enough offensively today."
