Alabama Falls to Gonzaga in the C.M. Newton Classic, 100-90

Miller scored 26 of his 36 points in the second half but the Crimson Tide couldn't get any stops in a 100-90 loss to the Bulldogs.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Brandon Miller had his best scoring game to date, but Alabama could not overcome Gonzaga as the Crimson Tide lose 100-90 in the C.M. Newton Classic

Miller finished with 36 points on 22 shots, with 26 points coming in the second half, along with six rebounds. Jaden Bradley was the only other double-digit scorer for Alabama, adding 18 points and four assists while going 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Noah Clowney led all rebounders with 13.

 Gonzaga had six players in double figures, led by Drew Timme's 29-point, 10-rebound double-double. Anton Watson was the Bulldog's second-leading scorer, putting up 17 points and five rebounds. 

Alabama did win the rebound battle (37-30) and shot 83 percent from the free-throw line, but also gave up 23 points off 21 turnovers. Gonzaga also had more points in the paint (50-42) and shot 74 percent from the field in the second half.

Alabama's record now stands at 9-2, snapping a 4-game winning streak. The next game will be back inside Coleman Coliseum, against former Alabama and All-SEC point guard Mo Williams and the Jackson State Tigers. Tipoff is on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 6 p.m. CT.

How It Happened:

Second Half

• Griffen scores the final basket to make the final score 100-90.

• Rylan Griffen fouls Nolan Hickman. Hickman makes both free throws to make the lead 10 again.

• Alabama calls a timeout with 1:08 to go. Rylan Griffen comes in for Quinerly after Quinerly came in for Bediako 

• Jaden Bradley makes both free throws to cut the lead to eight

• Bediako fouls Timme, his fourth of the game. Timme misses both free throws to keep the score at 10

•  Brandon Miller gets called for foul. Rasir Bolton makes both free throws to push the lead back to 10

• Noah Clowney called for a charge, then couldn't draw it on the other end. Media timeout.

• Charles Bediako makes both free throws to make it 88-82 Gonzaga with 4:40 to go

• Alabama calls a timeout before time ran out to inbound the ball 

• Drew Timme gets called for an illegal screen, his third foul of the game

• Gonzaga calls a timeout with 5:18 to go in the game. Both teams are trading baskets down the stretch as the Bulldogs hold the lead, 88-80

• Brandon Miller steps to the free-throw line as Rylan Griffen checks in. Miller makes both attempts

• Bediako makes the layup to stop a 7-0 Gonzaga run. He misses the free throw, 79-69 Gonzaga

• Bradley gets called for a charge

• Media timeout. Brandon Miller and Drew Timme are the scoring engines for their teams. 72-67 Gonzaga

• Miller hits a 3-pointer with heavy defense on him. Gonzaga calls a timeout. 66-63 when play resumes

• Clowney makes the layup and draws the foul. He converts the 3-point play, 66-60 Alabama

• Both teams are scoring in rapid succession. A 3-pointer from Gonzaga, a dunk from Clowney, then another Gonzaga 3-pointer. 66-57 Gonzaga

• Timme makes the free throw. 60-54 Gonzaga

• Media timeout after Timme draws a foul against Charles Bediako. He'll have a chance for a 3-point play when the gam resumes.

• Gonzaga responds to Alabama's early run. 57-54 Gonzaga

• Miller's 3-pointer gives him seven points in the first three minutes of the half

• Jaden Bradley makes a reverse layup to open the second-half scoring

First Half Notes:

• Alabama went the last 2:56 of the first half without scoring, missing its last four shots and coughing up three turnovers.

• Drew Timme leads all scorers with 16 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field. Jaden Bradley and Brandon Miller have 12 and 10 points respectively.

• Alabama's free-throw shooting has greatly improved today, shooting 12-for-14 from the free-throw line. Gonzaga is 4-for-7 on free throws but the Bulldogs have made 20 their 43 attempts from the field.

• Neither team is doing well from 3-point range, combining to make 7-for-26 from deep

First Half 

• Timme splits free throws, 47-42 Gonzaga to end the first half

• Gonzaga calls a 30-second timeout. Alabama has missed its last four shots and hasn't score in almost two and a half minutes

• Bediako comes in for Gurley

• Drew Timme makes the basket with a chance for one more. He makes it, 46-42 Gonzaga

• Bradley makes the free throw, 43-42 Alabama

• Bradley makes the layup and draws the foul before the media timeout. 43-41 Alabama

• Brandon Miller makes four consecutive free throws in two trips. 38-37 Gonzaga

• Bradley makes both free throws, 36-33 Gonzaga

• Quinerly, Gurley and Nick Pringle come in for Sears, Bediako and Clowney

• Bediako misses the first of a one-and-one

• Darius Miles gets called for the foul ahead of the media timeout.

• Drew Timme scores back-to-back baskets. Sears responds with a 3-pointer. 36-31 Gonzaga

• Mark Sears makes both free throws, cuts the Gonzaga lead to four. 32-28 Bulldogs

• Jaden Bradley returns. Darius Miles makes his first appearance

• Bediako missed the free throw, failing to convert the 3-point play. 30-26 Gonzaga

• Griffen makes both free throws to make it a one-point deficit for Alabama, 24-23

• Quinerly gets his first shot to go. Alabama has made 4 of its last 5

• Gurley gets called for a travel, the third turnover in the last 70 seconds for Alabama. Media timeout with 11:56 to go, 20-16 Alabama

• Rylan Griffen gets on the scoreboard with a layup. Anton Watson responds with a old-school 3-point play for Gonzaga. 20-14 Alabama with 12:40 to go

• Gurley's first points come on a dunk that rocks the crown

• Noah Gurley and Jahvon Quinerly enter the game for Alabama

• Alabama has made five of its last seven shots to take an early 16-9 lead ahead of an officials timeout

• Gonzaga's Julian Strawther draws a foul after Alabama scored consecutive baskets. He misses the and-1 free throw, 8-5 Alabama

• Jaden Bradley gets Alabama on the board with an opportunity for a 3-point play. He converts, 3-1 Alabama

• A quick foul on Charles Bediako sends Anton Watson to the line. He splits the free throws

• Alabama wins the tip to start the game

Pregame

Packed house at Legacy Arena for No. 4 #Alabama vs No. 15 #Gonzaga: pic.twitter.com/EiaWXikduJ

— Joey Blackwell (@_JoeyBlackwell) December 17, 2022

• The Tide return to the court in full uniforms to complete its warmup. About 90 second until introductions and tipoff

• Starting Lineup:

Starting ✋ against the Zags.#RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketball pic.twitter.com/c110loFpQg

— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) December 17, 2022

• Darius Miles is doing some dynamic exercises to test out his ankle before the game

• Alabama returns to the court for a full-team warmup. About 30 minutes until tipoff

• As fans file into Legacy Arena, the stadium is already about 50-percent full 40 minutes away from tipoff.

• Officials: Chuck Jones, Don Daley, Terry Oglesby

How to Watch Alabama vs Gonzaga

Who: No. 4 Alabama (9-1) vs Gonzaga (8-3)

When: Noon CT, Saturday

Where: Legacy Arena, Birmingham, Ala.

TV: CBS

Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart; Analyst: Bryan Passink). The pregame show will begin one hour prior to tipoff.

Last Meeting: In December of 2021, Alabama and Gonzaga squared off for the first time at the Battle in Seattle, with the No. 16 Crimson Tide taking down the No. 3 Bulldogs 91-82. Alabama guard Jaden Shackelford tied his career high with 28 points, including six 3-pointers on the night. JD Davison recorded 20 points, while Jahvon Quinerly scored 17. Freshman center Charles Bediako also had a solid night on both ends of the court, registering 7 points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots.

Last time out, Alabama: Coming off of an upset win over No. 1 Houston, Alabama basketball picked up its fourth win in a row on Tuesday night, downing Memphis 91-88 inside Coleman Coliseum. Freshman forward Brandon Miller scored 24 points to lead the Crimson Tide, with junior guard Mark Sears registering 18 points. While Noah Clowney fouled out of the game, his 11 points and team-leading nine rebounds also heavily contributed to the Alabama victory.

Last time out, Gonzaga: On Monday night, forward Drew Timme scored 26 points in Gonzaga's 88-67 win over Northern Illinois 88-67 on Monday night. The win extended the Bulldogs' home win streak — the longest in the country — to 71 games. Timme went 9-for-15 from the field and 8-for-9 at the line, while forward Ben Gregg recorded a career-high 18 points and seven rebounds and guard Malachi Smith finished with 14 points.

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