Alabama Loses in Double OT to Florida

The Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team lost in its SEC opener in double overtime on the road to the University of Florida 98-104. Alabama (7-6) led Florida (9-4) by as many as 21 points in the first half but could not close out the Gators on the road. The Tide was still up by two points with 21 seconds left in the game when Florida’s Noah Locke stole a Tide inbound pass and scored a layup to tie it. Alabama sophomore Kira Lewis Jr. missed a three-point shot on the ensuing possession to send the game to overtime.

Alabama went into halftime with a 14 point lead, and even entered the final 46 seconds of regulation clinging to a six point lead before ultimately allowing the Gators to tie it and then win in double overtime. The Crimson Tide saw three players foul out in the game, Javian Davis, Galin Smith and Herb Jones. Davis and Smith were the only Tide big men active in the second half as Alex Reese was held out due to illness. With Davis and Smith fouled out, the Florida Gators asserted themselves on the glass and that propelled the comeback effort.

The loss ended a three-game winning streak for the Crimson Tide. The Gators were 30-36 (83%) from the free throw line to the Tide’s 23-34 (67%) on the day. Alabama was led in scoring by John Petty Jr. with 19 points, followed by Kira Lewis Jr’s 17, James Bolden and Herb Jones chipped in with 15 each as well. Jones led all Tide rebounders with nine. Lewis Jr recorded four assists for the Tide, leading all passers.

Florida guard Andrew Nembhard led all scorers with 25, followed by Kerry Blackshear Jr.’s 24. Blackshear Jr. dominated the boards pulling in 16 rebounds for the home team, his front-court counterpart Keyontae Johnson pulled in 12 boards as well.

Alabama falls to 0-1 in conference play. The Crimson Tide will look to bounce back on Wednesday, January 8 at home against Mississippi State. The next game will be aired on SECNetwork at 6:00 p.m. central time. Keep it locked in with Tide 100.9fm, tide1009.com/listen-live and the TIDE APP for all your updates on the Alabama Crimson Tide.