Alabama Back Home to Face Dayton on Wednesday

The Alabama men’s basketball team will look to bounce back from its first loss of the season when it hosts the Dayton Flyers on Wednesday night. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. at Coleman Coliseum.

The Crimson Tide (6-1) dropped a heartbreaker last Saturday when it fell, 58-56, at then-No. 16 Cincinnati. The Bearcats’ Cashmere Wright drained a 15-foot fade-away jumper over the outstretched arm of seven-footer Moussa Gueye just as the buzzer sounded to lift his team to the victory.

“We’re looking forward to getting the opportunity to get back on the court,” UA head coach Anthony Grant said. “Obviously, [we’re] coming off a tough loss on the road. I think the game at Cincinnati gave our team an opportunity to learn a lot about ourselves in terms of what we do well and areas where we need improve."

Sophomore guard Trevor Lacey led UA with 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists in the losing effort. He comes into the Dayton match-up third on the team in scoring (13.9 ppg), and leads the squad in assists (3.8 rpg) and total steals (13)

.Junior guard Trevor Releford continues to pace the Tide with an average of 17.5 points, which ranks third in the Southeastern Conference and 2.2 steals a game. Releford (52.2 percent) and Lacey (46.9 percent)also rank first and second, respectively, in the SEC in three-point shooting.

Sophomore guard Rodney Cooper (14.5 ppg) is the third Tide player to average double figures and leads the team with 4.3 rebounds per game.

Dayton comes into Wednesday night’s contest sporting a 5-2 record on the season, which includes wins in four of its last five contests. The game at Alabama will mark the Flyers’ first true road game of the 2012-13 campaign.

Senior guard Kevin Dillard leads four Dayton players in double figures with an average of 13.9 ppg. He also tops the team in assists (4.0), three-point shooting (40.7 percent) and steals (1.3 spg).Junior guard Vee Sanford (11.7 ppg), senior forward Josh Benson (10.6 ppg) and junior forward Devin Oliver (10.6 ppg) also average in double figures on the season. Oliver also tops the team in rebounds (8.0) and minutes (30.9) per game.

Wednesday’s contest marks the second year in a row the two teams will meet on the hardwood, and the third time overall (series tied, 1-1). Almost a year ago to the day (Dec. 7, 2011), Dayton captured a 74-62 home victory over Alabama.

“We’re playing a team in Dayton that is extremely impressive when you look at what they have been able to accomplish, the competition they’ve played against and the success that they’ve had over the course of the season,” Grant said. “Our experience last year, at their place, and the way that turned out for us, I think our guys have a tremendous respect for Dayton and the program that they have, and [we’re] looking forward to the competition here tomorrow.”

The game will be televised CSS and can also be heard live on the Crimson Tide Sports Network, with Chris Stewart and Bryan Passink on the call on 95.3 WFFN-FM.