Tide Hoops Falls at Wake Forest

Alabama's men's basketball team finished 0-2 in the preseason after losing a 19-point first half lead and falling at Wake Forest 88-80 Sunday. The Tide had lost a closed scrimmage to TCU in Birmingham by four points a week earlier.

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The Crimson Tide was led in scoring by Hofstra transfer Aaron Estrada with 24 points to go with six boards and three assists. He was joined in double digits by freshman forward Sam Walters with 13 points and a team-leading nine rebounds.

Center Nick Pringle had 13 points, nine boards while North Dakota State transfer forward Grant Nelson scored  11.

Turnovers and poor foul shooting plagued Bama as its lead faltered. The Tide turned the ball over 18 times and hit only 61 per cent at the charity stripe.

Wake Forest outscored Alabama 49-28 in the final 20 minutes despite only having eight healthy players for the game.

The Crimson Tide was without guard Mark Sears, who was held out for precautionary reasons while nursing a groin injury. Sears did practice part of the time Friday morning and is expected to play in the season opener.

Bama will host Morehead  State Monday Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. CT at Coleman Coliseum. Morehead's leading returning scorer Mark Freeman will miss the game and likely the season after suffering a fractured wrist in practice.