Alabama
7-2
Winthrop
6-3
Alabama Men's Basketball Runs Past Winthrop, 72-60
12/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The Alabama's men's basketball team returned home Wednesday with a 72-60 victory over Winthrop. The Tide (7-2), which played its first home game in nearly a month and just its third contest on its own floor this year, is off to its best start since beginning the 2011-12 season with an 8-2 record.
Alabama had four players score in double-figures, led by junior forward Jimmie Taylor who recorded the team's first double-double with 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds in the victory. Sophomore point guard Justin Coleman also had a solid outing as he matched his season high with 18 points to go along with a game-high five assists.
"What a terrific second half for our team," head coach Avery Johnson said. "In the first half (Keon) Johnson got away from us -- 17 points in the first half. We talked about how we wanted to minimize his production in the second half. Fortunately, we switched Retin Obasohan, reigning SEC Player of the Week, on him and Retin did a phenomenal job defensively.
"One of the things that I share with Justin is, when you have a guy that's the major focal point of the opposition's offense like Johnson, their point guard, the way you attack him is not just defending him, but attacking him when he's on defense," Johnson continued. "So we put him in a lot of different situations, a lot of screening situations. We ran him off picks off the baseline. We tried to work him as much as we can and fortunately Justin took and made some big shots for us."
Alabama and Winthrop (6-3) remained close until late in a first half that featured seven ties and six lead changes. However, the Tide ended the final 2:39 on a 7-0 run and closed the half making four of its last five field goal attempts to take 32-27 lead into the locker room.
The Tide kept its momentum rolling after the break. Alabama began the second half by outscoring the Eagles, 19-4, to seize control of the contest. In all, Alabama's 26-4 from the end of the first half to the beginning of the second half, spanned 8:42 and gave the Tide a commanding 51-31 lead. The Tide started the second half 8-of-11 from the field while holding Winthrop to just 2-of-11 shooting.
Winthrop used two 7-0 runs to trim the Tide's lead, but never closer than the 12-point final margin.
Alabama won the rebounding battle, 40-30, and dominated, which marked the second consecutive game the Tide had 40 or more rebounds. Alabama also dominated in the paint with 42 points, compared to just 22 for the Eagles.
Senior guard Retin Obasohan finished with 12 points and Arthur Edwards scored 11 points and six rebounds. Brandon Austin finished with a season-high seven points, while Riley Norris grabbed a season-high seven rebounds.
Winthrop's Keon Johnson led all scorers with 25 points, while Xavier Cooks added 13. Jarad Scott led the team with seven rebounds.
Next up, the Tide takes on the Oregon Ducks in the Vulcan Classic, presented by BBVA Compass, on Monday, Dec. 21. The contest will take place in Birmingham's Legacy Arena and is slated to tip off at 8:00 p.m. CT.
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