Alabama Men’s Basketball falls to LSU, 97-94 in triple-overtime

The Alabama men's basketball team fell to the LSU Tigers in triple overtime Saturday afternoon by a score of 97-94 in Baton Rouge, La. Junior guard Trevor Releford led both teams with a career-high 36 points. Alabama goes to 18-9 on the season and 10-4 in Southeastern Conference play. The Crimson Tide is now 10-3 over its last 13 games.

There were 16 lead changes and the score was tied nine times. In addition to Releford, the Tide had three other players, all sophomores, in double-digits. Guard Rodney Cooper had 18, guard Trevor Lacey had 11, and forward Nick Jacobs had 10. It was Cooper’s seventh straight game in which he scored in double-digits.

Releford’s 36 was the most by an Alabama player since Alonzo Gee scored 32 vs. Florida on Jan. 8, 2008. Releford also had three steals, which makes him Alabama’s all-time steals leader with 178 for his career. He passed Senario Hillman who had 176 from 2007-10.

LSU had two players post double-double’s, as forward Johnny O’Bryant III had 24 points and 10 rebounds and guard Charles Carmouche had 20 points and 11 rebounds. It was the first triple-overtime game in the Maravich Center and Alabama’s first since a 102-101 win at Charlotte on Dec. 4, 2004.

Alabama returns to action this Tuesday at home against Auburn for a 6 p.m. tip. The game can be heard locally on 95.3 WFFN-FM.