Tide Rolls Over Rebels 115-76

The 8th ranked Crimson Tide bounced back from their disappointing loss to Gonzaga to bounce the UNLV Rebels by a score of 115-76. The Tide had six players in double digits in running the home standing UNLV out of the gym. Bama improved to 4-2 while the Rebels fell to 3-4 in the young season. Alabama will play Maryland on Wednesday night in another 11 p.m. CT contest. Coach Nate Oats used the same starting lineup of Labaron Philon, Aden Holloway, Houston Mallette, Taylor Bol Bowen, and Aiden Sherrell, that he used on Monday night in the loss to Gonzaga. The Tide started cold behind the arc but were rebounding the ball much better to begin the game. With 17:20 left in the half UNLV had their last lead of the game at 5-4. Holloway hit a deep three with 16:56 to make score 9-5 in Bama’s favor. They never looked back.

With the quick turnaround, Oats was substituting early and often. Amari Allen, Keitenn Bristow, and London Jemison all entered the game within the first four minutes of play. Holloway, Allen, and Mallette were all cooking from behind the three point line. Sherrell was playing like a beast down low, and Bama was able to forge to a comfortable lead with our Philon having to do much of the heavy lifting. When Allen knocked down another three point shot the Tide led 41-30 with 3:28 left in the half.

Bol Bowen, Allen, and Mallette, all hit two of two free throws as the clock ran down and the Tide led 51-36 at the break. Bama Shot 15-32 for 50% in the half including 6-17 for 35% from deep, and made 15-19 at the free throw line. Alabama had 24 rebounds, with eight on the offensive end, eight assists, one block, three steals, while committing four turnovers. Allen led the team with nine points, Holloway and Mallette scored eight points each, followed by Bol Bowen with seven of his own. Philon, Bol Bowen, and Sherrell led the team with four rebounds apiece.

UNLV shot 14-35 for 40%, 5-18 from three for 28%, and made only 3-7 free throws. The Rebels had 18 rebounds, 10 assists, one block, four steals, and gave the ball away four times. Issac Williamson led the way with 11 points and Kimani Williamson added nine tallies.

The Tide sent out the same starters for the second half and buried the Rebels quickly. Mallette drilled a three pointer immediately and Bama was off and running. Holloway Jemison, and Mallette kept pouring it on, and Philon joined in with some hoops at the rim. With 13:20 left when Holloway dropped another from behind the arc, the score was 71-54. Alabama didn’t let up no matter who was in the game. Noah Williamson played his most minutes and actually did some positive things, rebounding and passing in particular. With 2:42 left in the game, walk-on Jacob Martin entered the game much to the pleasure of his teammates. Martin even put a blocked shot on his stat sheet. The Tide coasted home to the 115-76 victory.

In the second half Bama shot a scorching 21-33 for 64%, 8-16 from deep, and 14-16 at the line. Overall the Tide finished 36-65 for 55%, 14-33 from deep for 42%, and 29-35 for 83% at the stripe, all big improvements from Monday night’s game. Holloway was the leading scorer with 26 points on 9-14 shooting, with 5-6 from behind the arc. Holloway added four rebounds and four assists in 25 minutes. Mallette was next with 19 points in 21 minutes after being held scoreless in Monday’s game. Jemison knocked down a career high 18 points with five rebounds. Allen added 13 points, five rebounds, and tossed in six assists. Philon only played 23 minutes and scored 13 and added four rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Bol Bowen contributed 12 points and seven rebounds, Sherrell added seven points, eight rebounds, and a block in 16 minutes. Williamson had four points, six rebounds, and two assists in his best work of the year.

UNLV shot 16-36 for 44% in the second half, 4-10 from three, and 4-7 on free throws. Overall the Rebels finished 30-71 for 42%, 9-28 behind the arc for 32%, and 7-14 on free throws. The Tide held Vegas to 28 rebounds, and the Rebels had 16 assists, eight steals, two blocks, and turned it over 10 times. Dra Gibbs-Lawson scored 25 to lead his team, and Williamson finished with 18.

This was a fun win for the Tide after so many tough, close, games against highly ranked teams. Oats was able to play 10 guys double digit minutes, and allow front line players some rest, which is needed with three games in three days. The team responses to Oats cries for tougher play and better rebounding. Some of the improvements can be credited to the quality of opponent, but the Tide was visibly playing harder and crashing the boards with a purpose. Let’s do it again tomorrow night, same time (11 p.m. CT), same place.

RollTide🏀🐘