No. 6 Alabama relied on its defense to take care of business on Sunday, beating Kent State by a score of 81-54.
Sloppy play and poor shooting prevented the game from being a bigger blowout as the Crimson Tide’s defense shined in the victory.
Here are a few takeaways from the game.
Glass Domination
Alabama used its size to its advantage on Sunday, having its way on the glass against an undersized Kent State team. The Crimson Tide outrebounded the away team 60-40. Grant Nelson led the way for Alabama with 14 rebounds, with Clifford Omoruyi right behind him with 12 rebounds. The Crimson Tide pulled down 20 offensive boards that led to 22 second chance points.
Trouble from the Line
Not only did Alabama struggle from the field, they also had a tough time from the free throw line. The Crimson Tide shot 51% from the line, making just 18 of their 35 free throw attempts. The poor shooting from the line didn’t affect the outcome on Sunday but could play a major role during SEC play and the postseason.
Sloppy Play
Alabama’s offensive play was far from perfect on Sunday. It wasn’t the Tide's sloppiest game of the season, but it came close. The Crimson Tide once again turned the ball over more in the first half than their season’s game average. Alabama turned it over 13 times in the first half and finished with 19 on the game, just one shy of its season-high 20. Kent State was only able to convert on the 20 turnovers for just seven points.
Dominant Defensive Effort
The star of the game on Sunday was the Alabama defense. Alabama’s offense wasn’t quite in sync, but the defense was able to hold Kent State to just 54 points. The Crimson Tide’s hands were active, creating eight steals while protecting the rim with seven blocks. The stingy Alabama defense held the Golden Flashes to just 28% shooting from the field.
Alabama will host South Dakota State next Sunday at 2 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed on the SEC Network+.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
