Box Score Alabama-Wofford game box
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Wofford College men’s basketball team had a one point lead at the half, but were defeated 80-73 by Alabama on Monday night at Coleman Coliseum. Wofford hit ten three-pointers in the first half, including four by Junior Salters.
The Terriers are 4-4 overall and 1-1 in SoCon play. Alabama is 6-3 overall on the season. The game was the first for both teams in the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Classic. Shane Nichols led the Terries with 20 points and Tim Johnson had ten points and a team-high 14 rebounds for his first career double-double. Alabama was led by Alonzo Gee with 21 points.
“We did everything that we could tonight,” said Wofford head coach Mike Young. “We shot the first out of the ball in the first half and had Alabama on their heels for a while. We gave ourselves a shot, but it was not good enough.”
Wofford began the game by hitting seven straight three-pointers to take a 21-15 lead at 12:34 in the first half. Tim Johnson scored on a tip-in at 9:09 for the Terriers first two-point basket of the game and a 23-18 lead. Wofford was able to extend the lead to eight points on two occasions after three-pointers by Corey Godzinski and Junior Salters.
Alabama’s Richard Hendrix scored five straight points for the Crimson Tide in the last 55 seconds of the first half to cut the Terriers lead to 37-36 at the half. Wofford was 10-14 from behind the arc in the first half (71.4%) and made all five free throws. In addition, Wofford had a 21 to 11 lead on the board after twenty minutes.
In the second half, Alabama went on an early 4-0 run to gain a 40-37 lead. After two lay-ups by Tyler Whatley, Wofford had gained the lead again at 41-40, which was the last lead of the game for the Terriers at 17:26 in the second half.
Wofford was able to cut the lead to one at 56-55 at 9:47 in the second. Alonzo Gee hit back-to-back three pointers to give the Crimson Tide a 66-57 lead at 7:17. Alabama increased the lead to ten points at 71-61 after a three-pointer by Brandon Hollinger at 5:32.
With two minutes to go in the game, Wofford hit five of six free throws to cut the lead to 74-71. Down the stretch, the Crimson Tide hit more free throws and eventually won 80-73.
Wofford out-rebounded the Crimson Tide 38-29. The Crimson Tide shot 54.5% from the floor, the first opponent this season to shoot better than 50%. Wofford had 15 turnovers, while Alabama had ten.
The game was the second of five straight on the road for the Terriers. Wofford will be at Purdue on Wednesday night at 7:00 pm ET. The game will be televised live on ESPNU. The next home game will be Tuesday, January 3 against Chattanooga.
