TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama connected on a season-high 19 3-pointers en route to defeating South Dakota State, 105-82, on Sunday in both teams’ non-conference finales inside Coleman Coliseum.
The No. 5/6 Crimson Tide jumped out early scoring the game’s first eight points with all eight coming from Grant Nelson. SDSU got its first field goal from Oscar Cluff to get on the board. The Jackrabbits used a seven-point scoring spree to cut the deficit to 16-14 with 11 minutes, 45 seconds remaining in the opening half.
Alabama responded with seven consecutive points and eventually scored 24 of the game’s next 27 points to go up 40-17.
The Crimson Tide took a 57-33 margin into the halftime break. The Jackrabbits scored the second half’s first seven points to make it a 57-40 contest. A pair of free throws by Stoney Hadnot saw the Jackrabbits trim the deficit to 68-54 with just over 12 minutes remaining.
It was the closest SDSU got the margin between the two sides for the remainder of the day.
The Crimson Tide shot 47.4% from the field including a 19-for-55 clip (34.5%) from 3-point range. Alabama, featuring the nation’s fourth highest scoring offense, finished with their second highest point total of the year. Ranked as the third highest rebounding team in the country, the Crimson Tide had a 45-40 edge in the category as well.
Alabama was led by four double-digit scorers which included 20-plus point efforts from LaBaron Philon, Mark Sears and Aden Holloway. Mouha Dioubate finished with 11 rebounds. The Crimson Tide improved to 11-2 overall this season. The Crimson Tide took advantage of 10 steals and 14 forced turnovers, while committing just six turnovers.
The Jackrabbits fell to 9-6 overall. SDSU was paced by Cluff who had 15 points and 10 rebounds for his ninth double-double on the season. Isaac Lindsey scored a career-high 11 points. Kalen Garry and Owen Larson each had nine points.
NOTES
- Alabama is now 4-0 all-time against South Dakota State.
- The 105 points scored by Alabama is the most by a Jackrabbit opponent this season. It’s the 12th time SDSU has given up more than 100 points to a foe during its DI era.
- Sunday’s game was played in front of 13,474 spectators.
UP NEXT
South Dakota State begins Summit League play on Thursday when the Jackrabbits host Denver. The Jackrabbits and Pioneers are slated for an 8 p.m. tipoff in First Bank & Trust Arena. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network