NCAAB Game Recap - Alabama at Samford
Wed Dec 18, 2019 7:30 PM EST

UNC
81
Gonz
94
F
Mia-O
46
Lou
70
F
KY
66
Utah
69
F
Mont
48
Oreg
81
F
Stony
44
UVA
56
F
Baylor
91
TN-M
63
F
MSU
77
NW
72
F
SDCh
48
SDSU
92
F
Tenn
66
Cin
78
F
CenCT
60
Dart
76
F
InWor
82
CenAR
88
F(OT)
OrSt
88
UTSA
78
F
LoyIL
78
Vand
70
F
WCU
61
Xav
74
F
(N/A)
47
How
105
F
USC-Up
73
SCSt
70
F
StPet
56
UConn
66
F
BethC
65
UCF
70
F
UNCG
54
Vermt
53
F
ETSU
74
LSU
63
F
IL-C
66
IlSt
67
F
Valpa
87
HiPt
72
F
(N/A)
61
W MI
84
F
Niag
70
StBon
87
F
JU
81
Presb
58
F
Rich
62
ODU
59
F
UNH
64
Maris
56
F
Merrim
60
LaSal
74
F
TNSt
72
IndSt
78
F
Ball
65
GaTec
47
F
DeP
73
Clev
65
F
VCU
76
Charl
71
F
Canis
73
Buff
82
F
HCU
68
SFA
96
F
Bama
105
Samf
87
F
NWSt
79
SHSU
92
F
KennSt
44
Belm
83
F
Bingha
55
YSU
73
F
UL
67
ArkSt
79
F
FlGlf
56
SDSt
75
F
(N/A)
64
WIGB
126
F
Hamp
53
SIU
75
F
TXAMC
58
Nich
64
F
AbCh
77
NOrl
71
F
Radf
68
MissSt
77
F
SeLA
73
Lamar
79
F(OT)
Oakl
62
Syr
74
F
SoFL
74
UtSt
76
F(OT)
DelSt
80
JSU
92
F
Albany
57
StJon
85
F
PaulQ
67
McNee
109
F
UtVal
69
Wyo
67
F
ArkPB
40
NMSt
65
F
StMar
96
AzSt
56
F
South
61
CBU
78
F
SJSU
84
SCla
89
F
TXSo
73
Nev
91
F
Pacif
74
UNLV
66
F
CAPoly
56
Sac
57
F

Alabama 105, Samford 87

Dec 18, 2019, 7:30 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

Alabama

57

48

105

Samford

37

50

87

Petty's 39 points leads Alabama past Samford 105-87
Wed Dec 18, 2019 10:34 PM

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) John Petty buried his first 3-pointer just 15 seconds into the game, and many more after that.

Petty wound up making 10 3-pointers and scoring a career-high 39 points in Alabama's 105-87 victory over Samford on Wednesday night at Legacy Arena. It's a venue where Petty had plenty of success in high school, winning three straight state titles.

"I just think it was the shots that I was taking," said Petty, who also won the state tournament MVP honors three times. "They were wide open. My teammates did a great job getting in the paint, making the extra pass.

"Also I played in this gym numerous times back to back to back. I've got a pretty good feel for the rims and for the court, so it wasn't anything new to me."

Petty missed only three of his 13 3-point attempts and the Crimson Tide (5-5) raced to a 25-point lead late in the first half.

His previous career best was 34 points against Iowa State just over a year ago. Petty also had 10 rebounds against the Bulldogs (6-7).

"When he's hot, you're in trouble," Samford coach Scott Padgett said. "When he's not, he might help you out. Tonight was definitely a hot night."

Alex Reese had 16 points and made four 3s for the Tide, while Jaden Shackelford scored 13 and Kira Lewis Jr. added 11.

Josh Sharkey had 18 points and 15 assists for Samford, which is located about an hour from Tuscaloosa and not far from the downtown arena. Sharkey came in ranked second nationally with 9.1 assists per game.

Brandon Austin, a onetime Alabama signee, scored 21 points against his former team. Robert Allen had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Jalen Dupree scored 16.

"I think the first three 3s that they hit, there was probably nobody in the area", Padgett said. "And it made them feel good. And all of a sudden, that rim looks bigger."

The Tide had blown a nine-point lead down the stretch in its last game, a 73-71 loss to Penn State. This time, Samford only managed to make it competitive for awhile after trailing 57-37 at halftime.

Allen's 3-pointer cut Alabama's lead to 83-77 in the final 10 minutes. The Bulldogs couldn't get any closer, though.

"They really fought back and made it an interesting game," Alabama coach Nate Oats said. "We didn't handle the pressure very well. I thought our defense kind of slacked off.

"It's a little bit of human nature. When the offense came as easy as it did in the first half, guys have a tendency to not play as hard as they need to."

BIG PICTURE

Alabama: Leads the series 30-3. Scored the game's first 13 points and made its initial six 3-point attempts. Went 17 of 34 from 3-point range.

Samford: Played two days after returning from a 94-73 loss at Hawaii and got off to a terrible start.

AUSTIN VS. ALABAMA

Austin enjoyed a big game against his former team. He spent two seasons with the Tide, but missed most of his sophomore season with a back injury.

"�t was real special," the senior said. "That was the school I started out. Hey, I've still got love for the school."

FREE THROWS

Alabama made 22 of 26 free throws, with Petty making all eight of his attempts. Samford didn't go to the foul line as often but also shot a high percentage, making 12 of 14.

UP NEXT

Alabama plays Belmont Saturday in Huntsville, Alabama.

Samford visits Georgetown on Saturday.

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For more AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and http://twitter.com/AP-Top25

Leaders

Alabama PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
J. Petty 39 0 2 10 2 0
A. Reese 16 0 2 2 1 1
Samford PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
B. Austin 21 0 0 2 2 0
J. Sharkey 18 0 15 4 3 0

Team Comparison

Bama Samf
Points For 105 87
Field Goals 33/64-52% 33/68-49%
Three Pointers 17/34-50% 9/28-32%
Free Throws 22/26-85% 12/14-86%
Offensive Rebounds 9 9
Defensive Rebounds 28 24
Rebounds 39 35
Blocks 4 3
Steals 10 6
Turnovers 16 19
Personal Fouls 17 20
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2019-20 Reg Season - Bama Leads Series 1-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Wed Dec 18 Bama 105 @ Samf 87 J. Petty 39 B. Austin 21

Game Information

Stadium: Pete Hanna Center, Homewood, Alabama
Attendance: 5,476
Game Time: