Alabama
Wake Forest
Men's Basketball Defeats Wake Forest in its First Charity Exhibition Game
10/18/2024 10:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Crimson Tide were led by Aden Holloway’s game-high 20 points
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama men's basketball opened the 2024-25 season with its first preseason win defeating Wake Forest, 98-77, at the Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham with proceeds from the contest supporting the Children's of Alabama. Alabama newcomer Aden Holloway led all scorers with a game-high 20 points.
The Crimson Tide had six players score double-figures led by Holloway's five three-pointers. The Tide spread the wealth on offense, recording 24 assists off 30 made field goals. Alabama's trio of returners from last year's squad in Mark Sears (19 points), Mouhamed Dioubate (10 points) and Jarin Stevenson (10 points) all scored in double-figures, combining for 39 points in Friday's contest.
Wake Forest had four players score double-figures led by Hunter Sallis' 16 points. Prior to tipoff, former member of Alabama basketball and current player for Wake Forest, Davin Cosby Jr., received his Final Four ring from Alabama's first-ever appearance in the Final Four last season.
Head Coach Nate Oats Postgame Comments
"It was good to get this group out together for the first time. We didn't have four of our guys, but I thought we had enough of them to kind of see how we want to play. I thought the defensive intensity was better than what we had seen at points last year. I thought it had some lapses. But I thought the play Sears made – he kind of stood the guy up, got a steal and then they fouled him getting out. I thought the play Derrion Reid made with the block, the save and then we get the block on the other end. Those effort plays are what we're trying to be about."
Team Stats
- Alabama outscored Wake Forest 20-5 in fastbreak points
- Aden Holloway (5-12) and Mark Sears (4-7) combined to shoot 47 percent (9-19) from three-point range
- As a team, UA shot 41 percent (19-46) from beyond the arc
- The Crimson Tide outrebounded the Demon Deacons 44-35
- The Tide grabbed 14 offensive rebounds, which led to 19 second chance points
- Derrion Reid won the Hard Hat award, posting 10 points, six rebounds, two blocks and an assist
First Half
- All nine players that played for Alabama scored in the first half led by Sears' eight points
- Alabama outrebounded Wake Forest 27-16 including grabbing nine offensive rebounds
- The Crimson Tide scored 12 fast break points while the Demon Deacons did not score one in the first half
- Midway through the first half, the Tide went on a 14-2 run to take a 38-28 lead
- Mouhamed Dioubate provided a spark off the bench, filling the stat sheet with seven points, four rebounds, one assist and one block
- Alabama went into halftime with a 46-38 lead
Second Half
- Holloway connected on four threes to lead the Crimson Tide's scoring in the second half (14 points)
- In addition to Holloway, the Tide had two other players score double-figures in the second half in Mark Sears (11 points) and Labaron Philon (10 points)
- Alabama capitalized for 14 points off Wake Forest's nine turnovers
- In the paint, Wake Forest outscored Alabama 16-10
- Alabama' dished out 13 assists in the second half led by Holloway's four assists
Up Next
- Alabama will play in its second and final preseason game on Monday, Oct. 28 against Memphis
- Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Huntsville at the Von Braun Center Propst Arena and can be seen on ESPN+
