Alabama Men’s Basketball Falls to Clemson, 67-54, in Vulcan Classic Sunday Afternoon

The Alabama men’s basketball team fell to the Clemson Tigers, 67-54, Sunday afternoon at the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., as part of the Vulcan Classic. The Crimson Tide falls to an overall 5-5 record, while the Tigers improve to 8-2.

Alabama jumped out to a 6-0 lead to start the first half, before Clemson responded with a 22-3 run over a 7:47 span to take a 22-9 lead with 8:16 left to play in the half. The Tide trailed by 15 points, 27-12, with five minutes left in the half, and it cut the lead to 12 points going in to halftime, down 31-19. Alabama went 6-of-23 from the field in the half, but won the rebounding battle by a 22-17 margin.

The Tigers’ offense continued to roll in the second half, as it held a 17-point lead, 50-33, at the midway point of the half. Alabama cut Clemson’s lead to 10 points on a three-pointer from senior Corban Collins to bring the score to 57-47 with 3:29 left in regulation. The Tide went on to score seven more points in the last three minutes of play, but it wasn’t enough as Clemson picked up the 67-54 victory.

Alabama went 16-of-50 from the field in the 40 minute contest, and it won the rebounding category by a 37-32 margin. Sophomore Avery Johnson Jr. led the Alabama offense with a career-high 17 points, while Donta Hall registered a team-high seven rebounds.

The Tide will be back in action on Wednesday, Dec. 21, when it travels to Huntsville, Ala., to take on Arkansas State as part of the Rocket City Classic at the Von Braun Center. The game is set to broadcast on the SEC Network at 8 p.m. CT.