Alabama Basketball Defeats McNeese State Despite Ice-Cold Second Half

The Crimson Tide was up by as much as 21 points early in the second period, but a big run by the Cowboys and messy gameplay by Alabama changed the momentum.

Nov 11, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide forward Mouhamed Dioubate (10) and forward Jarin Stevenson (15) jump to recover a rebound against McNeese State Cowboys forward Joe Charles (5) and forward Christian Shumate (24) during the first half at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Will McLelland-Imagn Images / Will McLelland-Imagn Images

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— Following a sloppy 88-79 home victory over Arkansas State, No. 2 Alabama basketball could’ve used a big statement win over McNeese State on Monday night to counter it.

A strong first half led by forward Grant Nelson, who tallied 18 points in the opening 20 minutes, and a great start to the second period that had the Crimson Tide firing on all cylinders. However, a big run by the Cowboys on both ends of the floor plus some sloppy Alabama basketball midway through the second half made this game much closer than it should’ve been.

Nevertheless, the Crimson Tide prevailed 72-64 and move to 3-0 on the young season.

How it Happened

Final: Alabama 72, McNeese 64

Final Stats from Alabama's win over McNeese State / Obtained from StatBroadcast

Second Half

Timeout (3:46 left in 2H): Alabama 66, McNeese 59: The Crimson Tide continues to struggle offensively with countless misses from the field and a couple of makes behind the arc by the Cowboys are keeping this game close.

Timeout (7:50 left in 2H): Alabama 60, McNeese 50: Both teams are playing sloppy basketball as the Crimson Tide hasn't made a field goal in nearly seven minutes and McNeese has made one of its last seven attempts from the field.

Timeout (11:52 left in 1H): Alabama 57, McNeese 45: McNeese is currently on a 9-0 scoring run while the Crimson Tide hasn't put the ball in the basket in nearly three minutes.

Timeout (16:52 left in 2H): Alabama 51, McNeese 34: The Crimson Tide is firing on all cylinders to open the second half including two threes by Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and a ferocious standing dunk by Cliff Omoruyi.

First Half

HALFTIME: Alabama 41, McNeese 30

Alabama vs. McNeese Halftime Stats / Obtained from StatBroadcast

Alabama Stat Leaders:
Points: Grant Nelson - 16 on 5-of-8 FG
Rebounds: Nelson and Cliff Omoruyi - 4 (5 oreb between them)
Assists: Jarin Stevenson - 3
Blocks: Jarin Stevenson - 2
Steals: Mo Dioubate - 2

Mark Sears adds a final punch to close the first half

Alabama 41, McNeese 30 pic.twitter.com/TRLawV0oQ7

— Hunter De Siver (@HunterDeSiver) November 12, 2024

Alabama guard Aden Holloway quickly heads to the locker room with a towel held against his face and a trainer by his side with over three minutes remaining in the first half. Holloway returned to the Crimson Tide a couple of minutes later in uniform looking good to go. May have taken a finger to the eye earlier.

Timeout (3:58 left in 1H): Both teams begin to trade buckets and pairs of free throws as Alabama's made four of its last five field goal attempts and McNeese most recently holds a 6-2 run.

Timeout (6:55 left in 1H): Alabama 31, McNeese 24: Grant Nelson is on fire with 14 of Alabama's 25 points and he's made his presence known on the defensive side of the ball as well. The Crimson Tide is currently on a 15-2 run over the last 5:36.

Timeout (11:57 left in 1H): McNeese 14, Alabama 13: Preseason All-American Mark Sears ends the Crimson Tide's nearly 7-minute FG drought with a three and then forces a turnover on the other end. Sears assisted Derrion Reid on a make from deep shortly after and Alabama then forced a shot clock violation.

Timeout (16:22) McNeese 10, Alabama 6: Alabama forward Grant Nelson is responsible for the Crimson Tide's first points with a dunk on the opening possession followed by four made free throws a couple of plays later. The Preseason All-SEC Second team member is starting for the first time this season as he had restricted minutes for the first two games due to an abdomen injury.

Pregame

5:58 p.m.: Starting lineups are announced for McNeese and one minute later the lights turn red for the Crimson Tide's player introductions.

5:55 p.m. Tipoff buzzer sounds and the National Anthem is played. Alabama coaches are wearing army green polos with an Alabama logo attached and Nate Oats is sporting a flannel jacket with a light blue shirt and navy pants.

5:52 p.m.: Both teams return for final round of warmups after Coleman Coliseum lights turn red. Alabama is donning a white jersey with crimson lettering and McNeese is wearing a blue uniform with gold lettering.

Alabama Starting Lineup:

• Guard Mark Sears
• Guard Labaron Philon
• Forward Jarin Stevenson
• Forward Grant Nelson (first start of season after having restricted minutes for the first two games due to injury)
• Center Clifford Omoruyi

McNeese Starting Lineup:

• Guard Javohn Garcia
• Guard Alyn Breed
• Guard Brandon Murray
• Forward Christian Shumate
• Forward Joe Charles

5:23: Both teams come out for a second round of warmups. Every player on Alabama is wearing a red long sleeve Script A shirt or white tank-top. However, forward Grant Nelson is wearing a black T-shirt with the Script A in the center.

5:08 p.m. CT: Alabama and McNeese finished inital warmups at Coleman Coliseum.

Officials: Doug Shows, Olandis Poole and Rob Rorke

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How to Watch: McNeese State at No. 2 Alabama

Who: McNeese (1-1, 0-0 Southland) at No. 2 Alabama (2-0, 0-0 SEC)

When: Monday, Nov. 11, 6 p.m. CT

Where: Coleman Coliseum, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

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

TV: SEC Network

Series: Alabama leads 1-0 with the only matchup occurring on Nov. 29, 2001.

Last meeting: Alabama dominated McNeese 90-61 nearly 23 years ago. Erwin Dudley led the Crimson Tide with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Rod Grizzard, Mo Williams and Terrance Meade also scored double figures. Kenny Walker filled the stat sheet a bit with nine points and six boards while Travis Stinnett logged four assists in very limited action.

Last time out, Alabama: The Crimson Tide defeated Arkansas State 88-79 in a sloppy Friday evening in Coleman Coliseum. Preseason All-American point guard Mark Sears led the Tide in points with 19, but he finished 4-of-12 from the field, including 0-of-5 from downtown with an 11-of-16 performance from the charity stripe. Like the Memphis exhibition, Alabama and the Red Wolves combined for a whopping 80 free throw attempts. Alabama also struggled from deep by converting on 6-of-31 attempts but its efforts on the inside led to double-digit points by guard Labaron Philon, forwards Derrion Reid, Jarin Stevenson and Grant Nelson and center Clifford Omoruyi paved the way for an escape.

Last time out, McNeese: The Cowboys rebounded from a season-opening loss to South Dakota State with a resounding 111-57 victory over the College Of Biblical Studies on Thursday. Guards Javohn Garcia and Sincere Parker led McNeese in scoring with 21 and 20 points respectively. Fellow guard Omar Cooper only scored four points but finished first on the team in rebounds with eight and an astonishing 13 assists. In total, McNeese combined for 15 steals with nine of the 11 players who saw action recording at least one.