Game 24: Men at Alabama

The men's team travels to face Alabama (9-3) tonight at the Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa. GW (4-5) is coming off of a 63-54 home win over Longwood on Sunday. In that one, the Colonials trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half, but used a 20-0 run midway through the contest to overcome the Lancers. GW had four players in double figures in scoring in Wynton Witherspoon (19 points, four assists), Cheyenne Moore (12 points), Damian Hollis (11 points, 11 rebounds), and Miles Beatty (11 points).

The Crimson Tide, who were picked to finish third out of six teams in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference, return four starters from the squad that went 20-12 and fell to Massachusetts in the opening round of the NIT. Alabama is led by 6-9 junior forward Richard Hendrix (19.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, two blocks per game this season), a first team All-SEC selection and preseason John R. Wooden Award candidate. The Crimson Tide have two other players who are averaging double figures in scoring in 6-6 junior guard Alonzo Gee (15.3 points, 7.6 rebounds) and 6-6 senior forward Mykal Riley (14.3 points, 4.3 rebounds). Coach Mark Gottfriend is 190-111 in his 10th season at Alabama; he is 258-135 in 13 seasons as a head coach.

Alabama is coming off of an 83-68 win over Iowa State in the title game of the 2007 Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Classic in Las Vegas, NV on Sunday. In that one, Gee had 23 points and 11 rebounds. He was joined in double figures in scoring by Hendrix (18 points, seven rebounds), Riley (18 points), and 6-3 freshman guard Rico Pickett (13 points). The Crimson Tide are 6-1 at Coleman Coliseum this season, with the lone loss coming 85-83 to Belmont on November 19. Alabama's other two losses came 76-63 at Texas A&M on November 28 and 70-60 against Georgetown in Birmingham on December 5. As a team, the Crimson Tide shoot 48.6% from the field, led by Hendrix's 63.8%, and 39.9% from three-point land.

This is the first-ever meeting between these programs.

There has been no update on Maureece Rice's status in recent days, but you have to give Alabama the edge with or without GW's senior star. The Crimson Tide have too much talent, plus GW has struggled mightily on the road this season.

Julian Gompertz and Greg Shapiro have the call for WRGW with Adam Rosenbloom handling production duties. You can listen here starting at 5.40 p.m. Our own Paul Marmaro will Byron Kerr for the WFED broadcast. You can listen here starting at 5.50 p.m. Gary Harris and Wendell Hudson have the call for Comcast. You can watch live starting at six p.m.

Game notes: GW is 11-13 in its last 24 games away from the Smith Center...The Colonials have lost their last six games away from the Smith Center...Five of those losses have come this season...GW is 0-4 on the road this season...The average margin of defeat in those four losses is 19.3 points...GW has lost nine-straight games at squads from BCS conferences...Hobbs is 1-10 at BCS teams...The lone win came at Providence in his first season...GW is 14-15 all-time against SEC teams...The last win came over Mississippi State in the Franklin National Bank Classic in Washington on December 8, 1996...Hobbs is 0-2 against SEC teams...Both of those losses have come in 2007...To Vanderbilt in the NCAA Tournament and Auburn in the BB&T Classic...Rice needs nine points to pass Haviland Harper for 37th place in scoring in program history...Rice needs 15 points to pass Joe Adamitis for 36th place...This game is the second and final contest GW will play between December 14 and January 9...After going 27-5 during the 2006 calendar year, the Colonials are 19-11 in 2007...Alabama's star senior guard Ronald Steele is redshirting the season after undergoing knee surgery...Steele was an Associated Press Preseason All-American selection last season.

Starting lineups and other notes to follow from the Coleman Coliseum once we get closer to tip-off. Please check back later.

Update, 6.03 p.m. - Here are the starting lineups:

GW
G - Maureece Rice (6-1 senior from Philadelphia, PA)
F - Cheyenne Moore (6-5 junior from Baltimore, MD)
F - Wynton Witherspoon (6-7 junior from Duluth, GA)
F - Damian Hollis (6-8 sophomore from Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
F - Rob Diggs (6-8 junior from Brandywine, MD)

Alabama
G - Rico Pickett (6-3 freshman from Decatur, AL)
G - Alonzo Gee (6-6 junior from Riviera Beach, FL)
F - Mykal Riley (6-6 senior from Pine Bluff, AR)
F - Demetrius Jemison (6-7 sophomore from Birmingham, AL)
F - Richard Hendrix (6-9 junior from Athens, AL)

Update, 6.58 p.m. - The Colonials trail by 21 at the half. Strong 20 minutes by Diggs (10 points on 5-10 shooting) and Rice (seven points). However, the big difference is behind the three-point line, as Alabama went 7-14 (50%) and GW shot 2-12 (16.7%). The Crimson Tide also hold a 26-16 edge on the boards. The hard times continue.

Update, 8.05 p.m. - It's finally over; GW loses 93-57. Diggs matches Hendrix with 18 points and 11 rebounds, but the Crimson Tide shoot 35-73 (47.9%) from the field and outrebound the Colonials 52-33. GW finishes the non-conference schedule 4-6, and will open Atlantic 10 play on January 10 at home against Saint Louis.

That's all for tonight. We'll be back tomorrow when the women host Pepperdine. As always, thanks for stopping by.