Alabama
3-2,0-0SEC
Clemson
5-0,0-0ACC
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson | 34 | 30 | 64 |
| Alabama | 30 | 26 | 56 |
Clemson Uses Late Run to Push Past Alabama, 64-56
12/12/2020 11:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Tigers finished the game on a 10-1 run to remain undefeated this season (5-0)
ATLANTA – The Alabama men's basketball team fell to Clemson, 64-56, on Saturday night in the Holiday Hoopsgiving event at State Farm Arena. The Crimson Tide (3-2) held a 55-54 lead with just over six minutes remaining, however, the Tigers would finish by scoring 10 of the game's final 11 points to remain undefeated on the season (5-0).
Alabama was able to take a late lead thanks to a 16-3 run that turned 51-39 deficit into a 55-54 advantage with 6:32 remaining. However, after a Clemson called timeout, the Tigers scored on back-to-back possession to take the lead for good.
Forward Herbert Jones led UA with a season-high 17 points, including connecting on 11-of-12 free throws, to go along with three steals. Guard John Petty Jr. was the only other Crimson Tide player to reach double figures, scoring 10 points on the night.
Clemson's Al-Amir Dawes scored 10 points to lead a balanced offensive attack for Clemson, which including the Tigers' bench outscoring their counterparts, 31-14.
Coach Nate Oats Postgame Comments
- "A very disappointing loss. Our effort was not where it needed to be tonight. We struggled on the boards – only had four offensive rebounds and we were outrebounded by 15 (43-28). They outscored us in second chance points 15-0. We missed 39 shots. You're going to have some bad shooting nights, but when you miss 39 shots you should have more than four offensive boards. Clemson is a really good team. One of the best defensive and hardest playing teams we will play this year. We've got to get it figured out here soon because we have a quick turnaround to try and get ready for a very good Furman team on Tuesday."
Team Stats
- Alabama shot just 30.4 percent from the field, hitting only 3-of-22 shots from beyond the arc against Clemson, who entered the game with the No. 6 most efficient defense in the nation
- The Crimson Tide collected 17 steals in the contest which are the most since Feb. 20, 2013 when UA had 16 steals against Mississippi State
- As a result, the Tide owned a 13-1 edge in fast break points
- Despite having 21 turnovers on the night, the Tigers dominated the glass with a 43-28 edge on the boards, including a 12-8 advantage in offensive rebounds which equated to a big 15-0 advantage in second chance points
- In a game that saw six lead changes, Alabama only led for 1:38 of the game
First Half
- After a back-and-forth start to the contest, Alabama trailed 17-15 with 10:05 left to go in the first half
- The Tigers used an 11-2 spurt over the next six minutes to take their largest lead of the half at 26-15 with 6:41 remaining
- The Crimson Tide came right back with an 12-2 run and eventually tied the game at 30-30 with 2:09 left in the first half
- Clemson scored the final four points of the opening stanza to take a 34-30 lead into the locker rooms
- For the first time this season, Alabama failed to hit a three-pointer in a half (0-of-7), however, the Tide went 12-of-13 (92.3 percent) from the charity stripe
Second Half
- Clemson scored the first six points in the second half to take a 40-30 lead
- In all, the Tigers outscored the Tide 10-0 over the run that lasted 4:41 and spanned halftime
- With Clemson leading by 12, 51-39, with 9:36 left to play, Alabama would go on a 16-3 run over the next 3:26 to take a 55-54 lead with 6:10 remaining in the contest
- From that point on, the Tigers would outscore the Tide, 10-1 as UA missed its final eight shots from the field
Next Up
- The Tide will return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 15, when it takes on the Furman Paladins inside Coleman Coliseum. The contest is at 8 p.m. CT and can be watched on SEC Network.
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