John Petty Jr. Nets 39 as Crimson Tide Tops 100 for Road Win

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Alabama men's basketball team saw a 25-point lead cut to six during a frantic second half but still held on for a road basketball win in a game it led wire-to-wire Wednesday night.

Needing a victory to reach the .500 mark, Nate Oats' first team with the Crimson Tide got just that in the inaugural Chick-fil-A Birmingham Classic at Legacy Arena. Alabama held off in-state foe Samford, 105-87.

The total set a school record for the most points ever scored in a true road game in program history, surpassing the mark of 101 points set in a triple-overtime loss at Charlotte on Dec. 4, 2004.

Alabama set new season-high marks in points, field goals made (33), 3-pointers made (17), three-point field goal percentage (50.0 percent, 17-of-34) and free-throw percentage (84.6 percent, 22-of-26).

“Good win," Oats said. "Our shooting obviously got us off to a good start. They really fought back and made it interesting. We didn’t handle the pressure very well and our defense slacked off."

Added Samford coach Scott Padgett: “You’ve got to give them credit. They hit five or six (three’s) with a hand in their face. They felt good about themselves. That rim looks bigger and it’s contagious. They shoot a lot of three’s. They made a lot more (than usual)."

Leading that effort for the Crimson Tide (5-5) was junior guard John Petty Jr, who poured in 39 points. Joining him in double figures were Alex Reese with 16, Jaden Shackelford with 13 and Kira Lewis Jr. with 11.

Just missing double digits with nine points each were James “Beetle” Bolden and Herbert Jones.

"Petty’s that guy that gets really, really hot when he gets hot," Padgett said.

Petty also led the Crimson Tide with 10 rebounds as Alabama out-boarded Samford 37-33.

The Crimson Tide made half its shots from 3-point range (17-34) and needed nearly every one.

Samford (6-7) was led by the 18 points of Bulldog starter/former Alabama letterman Brandon Austin.

Austin said, “It was real special because that was the school I started out at and I’ve still got love for (Alabama).”

At the half, the Tide led 57-37 and Petty already had 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting. The first 20 minutes saw Alabama jump out to an 11-0 lead just 96 seconds in. That prompted a quick Padgett time out.

Treys by Petty and Reese aided the cause and by the time Samford scored the Crimson Tide led 13-2 at the 17:52 mark.

When Alabama finally missed a shot the tally was 19-2 with 16:24 left in the half. Petty drained 3 after 3 and by the 15:36 media time out the Crimson Tide's margin was 22-5. It led by as many as 25 at the 2:18 mark and made a blistering 11-of-19 behind the arc.

Petty himself was 6-for-7 in the half from 3-point land.

“I think it was the shots I was taking," Petty said. "They were wide open. I’ve played in this gym numerous times through the years and I’ve got a feel for the rims. It wasn’t nothing new for me.

“It’s the work I’ve been putting in. Coach (Oats) has been rebounding for me in shootarounds. I want to play hard on defense and hustle.”

“Incredible performance by Petty. We’ve got some tough kids,” added Oats.

“When somebody gets going, it gets easier and the basket opens up for you,” Reese said.

In the second stanza, sloppy ball-handling by the Crimson Tide allowed Samford to cut the lead to eight at the 12:51 mark due to an effective press. Oats didn’t call time out until then despite a 24-7 run by the Bulldogs. However, in the end, the big lead held up thanks to a pair of “heat check” 3’s by Petty.

“We’ve got to play every single play and try to dominate our opponent,” Oats said. “To me it’s a maturity level and it does not sit well with me.”

Though not played on the Samford campus, the game was counted as a home game for the Bulldogs and a road win for Alabama.

Next up for Alabama is another instate road trip, this time to Huntsville’s Von Braun Civic Center on Saturday. The Crimson Tide will take on Belmont in the Rocket City Classic with tip-off set for 2:30 p.m. CT (SEC Network).