National Basketball Association
Arizona 88, Alabama 82
When: 10:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 9, 2017
Where: McKale Center, Tucson, Arizona
Officials:
# Randy McCall, # John Higgins, # Steve Olson
Attendance:
14644
By The Sports Xchange
Freshman DeAndre Ayton scored a career-high 29 points and corralled 18 rebounds to help Arizona defeat Alabama 88-82 on Saturday night at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz.
Ayton helped Arizona (7-3) clinch the game in the final four minutes, delivering seven consecutive points with the score tied at 76.
It was Ayton's eighth double-double in his first 10 games.
Alabama freshman guard Collin Sexton had 30 points to lead the Crimson Tide (7-3). Donta Hall added 15 points.
The teams were tied at 67 when Arizona was able to take a 70-67 lead with eight minutes left.
But Arizona outscored Alabama 12-6 in the final four minutes.
Sexton picked up his third personal foul with just more than 17 minutes left and Alabama leading 51-45. He eventually fouled out with 8.5 seconds left.
Arizona played from behind for some of the second half, but Rawle Alkins inched Arizona closer with a basket with 16:33 left and Brandon Randolph followed 15 seconds later to make it 51-49 Alabama. It was Alkins' first basket of the season.
Alkins picked up his fourth foul with 7:26 left in the game and didn't return until 3:18 remaining. He finished with seven points.
Alabama's Daniel Giddens hit a shot with one second left on the shot clock on an inbound play to make it 53-49.
Arizona was hoping to get some energy and defense from Alkins, who had been out the entire season because of a foot injury. He entered the game with 17:06 left in the first half.
Arizona and Alabama exchanged baskets for the first four minutes of the game before Arizona took a seemingly comfortable lead at 24-13 as it went on a 9-0 run. But Alabama outscored Arizona 13-2 in a 3 1/2-minute stretch to tie it at 26.
Ayton kept Arizona in the lead for most of the first half with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Sexton hit a 3-pointer at the half to give Alabama a 40-38 halftime lead. He finished with nine points at the half.
Top Game Performances
Alabama |
|
Arizona |
Collin Sexton 30 |
Scoring |
DeAndre Ayton 29 |
Dazon Ingram 6 |
Assists |
Allonzo Trier 6 |
Donta Hall 12 |
Rebounds |
DeAndre Ayton 18 |
Collin Sexton 15 |
Free Throws Made |
Allonzo Trier 14 |
Donta Hall 2 |
Steals |
Rawle Alkins 1 |
Daniel Giddens 1 |
Blocks |
Rawle Alkins 1 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
Alabama
|
82 |
38.7 |
10-24 |
24-28 |
15 |
26 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
Arizona
|
88 |
51.8 |
8-16 |
22-35 |
17 |
41 |
3 |
2 |
12 |