Game 5: Alabama at Texas A&M
Nov 30, 1998 | Men's Basketball
November 30, 1998
The Texas A&M Aggies (3-1) face their biggest challenge of the young season on Tuesday when they meet the Alabama Crimson Tide (4-1) at 7 p.m. (central) at Reed Arena (12,500 cap.) in College Station. The Aggies are coming off a heartbreaking 89-86 overtime loss to Oral Roberts on Saturday in Tulsa while Alabama is coming off an 87-44 pasting of Jacksonville State on Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
About the Tide
Alabama returns nine lettermen and three starters from last year's team that finished 15-16 overall and 6-10 in the Southeastern Conference. The Crimson Tide is in its first season under head coach Mark Gottfried, who was 68-24 in three years at Murray State. Alabama opened the season with a 78-70 road loss to Ohio State before posting four straight home victories to improve its record to 4-1. Junior center Jeremy Hays (6-11) leads the team in scoring (15.6 ppg) and rebounding (8.4), while senior guard Brian Williams (6-1), a two-time All- SEC pick, is averaging 15.0 points and is making 56.5 percent (13-of-23) from three-point range. As a team, the Tide is making 47.4 percent from the field while limiting their opponents to just 34.6 percent. Alabama is averaging 76.4 points per game and giving up just 58.0 points per contest.
The Series
The Aggies have never beaten the Crimson Tide, who lead the series, 6-0. Alabama won last year's meeting in Tuscaloosa, 81-64. The teams' only meeting in College Station came in 1991-92, with the Tide posting a 74-61 win. The first meeting was in 1958-59, with Alabama winning by a 66-62 margin in Birmingham, Ala.
Last Year's Game
The Aggies led by as many as seven points early in the game but Alabama rallied for an 81-64 victory last season in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Aggies trailed just 37036 at halftime, but made just 29.4 percent from the field in the second half. For the game, A&M made just 36.6 percent, including an icy 16.7 percent (3-of-18) from three-point range. As a result, Alabama opened the second half with a 17-6 scoring run for a 54-42 lead with 14:03 left to play. From there, A&M never pulled closer than 10 points and the Tide led by as many as 22. Calvin Davis led the Aggies with 15 points and 12 rebounds, his first double-double of the year, and added four blocked shots. Steve Houston added 15 points with five assists, while Shanne Jones contributed 14 points with nine rebounds. Jerald Brown scored 10 points but made just 3-of-13 from the field. Michael Schmidt was the only non-starter to score for A&M, chalking up four points. Five Alabama players scored in double figures, led by Demetrius Alexander and Jeremy Hays with 15 points each.
Alabama 81, Texas A&M 64 Dec. 3, 1997 * Tuscaloosa, Ala. A&M FG 3PT FT REB PTS Davis 5-9 0-0 5-5 12 15 Jones 6-17 0-0 2-3 9 14 Thompson 3-5 0-0 0-0 4 6 Houston 7-9 1-2 0-0 4 15 J. Brown 3-13 2-9 2-2 2 10 Barone 0-4 0-1 0-0 2 0 Clayton 0-3 0-1 0-0 0 0 Richards 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 Schmidt 2-9 0-5 0-1 1 4 Totals 26-71 3-18 9-11 43 64 Alabama FG 3PT FT REB PTS Alexander 6-16 0-0 3-3 10 15 Rollins 0-3 0-0 0-2 2 0 Hays 5-13 0-1 5-5 9 15 Jones 3-7 1-2 0-2 3 7 Williams 5-10 4-6 0-0 3 14 Ashby 3-4 0-0 0-0 4 6 Bacote 6-12 1-5 0-0 10 13 London 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 0 Martin 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 Mazique 5-9 0-0 1-3 4 11 Thrasher 0-2 0-2 0-0 1 0 Totals 33-77 6-16 9-16 51 81 Halftime: UA 37, A&M 36 FG Pct.: UA 42.9, A&M 36.6 3-Pt. Pct.: UA 37.5, A&M 16.7 FT Pct.: A&M 81.8, UA 56.3 Assists: UA 14 (Jones 6), A&M 9 (Houston 5) Turnovers: A&M 13 (five with 2), UA 9 (Williams 2) Blocks: A&M 8 (Davis 4), UA 7 (Ashby, Mazique 3) Steals: UA 6 (Alexander 2), A&M 4 (four with 1). Attendance: 5,299 Officials: J. Clougherty, D. Bair, R. Crawford.
Injury Report
Freshman center Joe White (sprained right knee, probable); junior guard/forward Jerald Brown (sprained right ankle, probable); freshman guard Shelton Wise (sprained left ankle, probable); senior guard Chris Clayton (bruised left knee cap, probable); junior forward Jason Boeker (bruised knee caps, probable); sophomore guard T.J. Brown (dislocated right index finger, questionable).
Coach Watkins
Melvin Watkins (North Carolina Charlotte `77) is in his first season as head coach at Texas A&M, where he is 3- 1. He is the first A&M coach to start his career 3-0 since H.R. McQuillan, who started the 1935-36 season with a 4-0 record. The 44-year-old Watkins was hired as A&M's 18th head coach on April 1, 1998, after a quarter of a century as a player, assistant coach and head coach at his alma mater, North Carolina Charlotte. In two years as the 49ers' head coach, Watkins built a 42-20 record, posted consecutive 20-win seasons and NCAA Tournament berths and won two first-round NCAA games. In the second round in 1998, the 49ers pushed top-seeded North Carolina to overtime before falling. Before being named UNCC's head coach in 1996, Watkins served as an assistant there for 18 years. He graduated from UNCC in 1977 with a degree in economics after leading the team to the NCAA Final Four along with teammate Cedric Maxwell. In 1976, the 49ers made the NIT finals. Watkins was a part of all 10 postseason appearances in UNCC history as either a player or coach. Watkins was a prep All-America center at Reidsville (N.C.) High School.
WATKINS' RECORD Year School W-L 1996-97 UNC Charlotte# 22- 9 1997-98 UNC Charlotte 20-11 1998-99 Texas A&M 3- 1 Career Totals (3rd year) 45-21 UNCC Totals (2 years) 42-20 Texas A&M Totals (1st year) 3- 1 NCAA Tournament Record 2- 2 #Conference USA Ray Meyer Coach of the Year
COACHING STAFF
Tom Billeter (Illinois `83), came from St. John's; Lew Hill (Wichita State `87), came from East Carolina; Bobby Kummer (UNCC `96), came from UNCC.
Watkins Says
(on Alabama): "Alabama is by far the toughest team we have played. They are so athletic. They have a new coach but in terms of personnel they definitely have the bodies and players to be competitive in SEC this year. We know that being competitive in that league means you have to be a pretty good basketball team. The bright point is that it is a home game, but we know that they will be our toughest competition to date. They are so athletic and they have height. They have a lot of size and they have quickness. You name it, they have it. They can do a lot of different things to you."
Reed Arena
The Aggies had a successful debut in Reed Arena on Nov. 13, posting an 80-59 victory against North Texas. A&M is 2-0 at Reed this season. The Aggies moved into the 12,500-seat, $36 million facility this year after 44 seasons at G. Rollie White, where they played 493 games and built a record of 345-148 (.700). The overall size of the building is 230,000 square feet with 177,821 square feet of assignable space. The arena floor measures 25,000 square feet. Major events already held at Reed include the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, Aggie Muster, graduation ceremonies and concerts by Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Clay Walker and the Dixie Chicks. The arena is named for Houston veterinarian Chester J. Reed, a 1947 graduate of A&M, and his wife, Billie Jean. In 1986, the Reeds contributed 265 acres of undeveloped land west of Houston to the university, forming the nucleus of assets used to fund the facility. Ground was broken in September 1995 and the project was completed in April 1998 in time for Aggie Muster.
Early Blows
Coach Melvin Watkins received plenty of bad news in the fall as senior forward Calvin Davis and senior center Dario Quesada failed to make in back from injuries suffered last year. Davis was an All-Big 12 pick as a sophomore and was off to a great start last year before suffering a herniated disk in the conference opener last year against Oklahoma State. Davis re-injured the back in the summer and had surgery for the second time in September. Davis will not play this season and the injury could threaten the rest of his career. Quesada suffered a bulging disk in his back in September 1997 and missed all of last season after starting in 45 games the previous two years.
Come Back Shanne
Senior forward Shanne Jones, the top returning scorer in the Big 12, is averaging 18.0 points (64.1 perfcent from field) and 6.0 rebounds per game despite a five-point outing against Stephen F. Austin that ended a 31- game double-figures scoring streak. Jones scored 24 against Centenary, moving him past the 1,000-point mark in his career (including his freshman year at Stetson). In 85 career games, Jones has scored with a total of 1,027. Jones has scored 864 points in 58 games at A&M, an average of 14.9 per game.
Home Cookin'
Junior point guard Clifton Cook, nicknamed "Fats" by his teammates, has wasted no time in making an impact. Cook, a transfer from Howard Junior College, scored 12 points with 10 assists against North Texas in the opener, the first-ever double-double by an A&M point guard in his first game. On Saturday against Oral Roberts, Cook scored a career-high 25 points and made 3-of-4 three-pointers, including one with five seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. Cook nailed another trey to tie the game with 19 seconds left in the overtime, but ORU came back to win with a trey of their own with two seconds left. Against Centenary, Cook scored 12 points with 14 assists and six steals. The 14 assists was just one shy of the school single-game record. In the second half of that game, he handed out 10 assists with no turnovers, just one assist short of the Big 12 record for one half. For the season, Cook is averaging 14.5 points, 7.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 3.8 steals while making 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from three-point range. Cook leads the Big 12 in assists and steals.
Jacobs Impresses
Like Cook, junior forward Paul Jacobs has already made a dramatic impact on the Aggies. Through four games, Jacobs has averaged 8.5 points and 1.0 blocks along with a team-high 7.5 rebounds while making 76.9 percent (10-of-13) from the line. Against Stephen F. Austin, Jacobs scored 14 points with six boards and two blocks and made 8-of-10 free throws. In the opener against North Texas, he posted a double-double in his first division I game with 10 points and 10 rebounds. He scored his second double-double against Oral Roberts with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
C.C. Rides It
Senior guard Chris Clayton, who missed much of last season with a broken foot, has started his senior season in solid form. Clayton is averaging 11.3 points and a team-best 2.3 three-pointers per game (36.0 percent). Against Centenary, Clayton scored 18 points and made 3-of-8 treys. He has scored in double figures in three of four games this season. Clayton was the team's leading scoring on the Aggies' European Tour in August, averaging 20.6 points and making 58.1 percent of his three-pointers (5.0 per game) from the international distance.
Jack's Back
Sophomore forward Aaron Jack started his first game of the year against Oral Roberts and scored six points with four boards before fouling out in the second half. Jack is averaging 6.8 points and 5.5 rebounds while making 52.6 percent (10-of-19) from the field and 70.0 percent (7-of-10). from the line. Jack's father, Bobby Jack, was an All-Big Eight forward at Oklahoma in 1972. Jack transferred to A&M in 1997 after two injury- plagued years at Penn State. He became eligible last December and averaged 8.3 points and 6.5 boards per game.
Better Charity
The Aggies made 76.2 percent from the line against North Texas, their best free throw shooting performance since they made 78.9 percent in a 76-67 win against Kansas State in 1996-97. They followed with a solid 69.0 percent against Stephen F. Austin. Through four games, the Aggies have made 67.6 percent from the line, a marked improvement over last season's dismal 57.9 percent, the worst in school history. Head Coach Melvin Watkins' final two teams at UNC Charlotte each led Conference USA in free throw shooting.
Turnover Woes
The Aggies' main concern through four games has been turnovers. A&M is averaging 21.5 turnovers per game after committing 22 against North Texas, 23 against Stephen F. Austin, 22 against Centenary and 19 against Oral Roberts.
Strong Boards
The Aggies have out-rebounded all four opponents this season by an an average margin of +5.3. Four Aggies are averaging better than 5.0 rebounds per game.
Strong Defense
The Aggies have held all four opponents this season to less than 46 percent shooting from the field. Through four games, A&M's opponents are making just 36.9 percent from the field, 33.0 percent from three-point range and 65.1 percent from the line. In addition, the Aggies are forcing an average of 17.8 turnovers per contest and averaging 8.5 steals. A&M's opponents are averaging just 67.5 points per game.
Random Notes
*The Aggies have lost 26 straight games when their opponents score 80 or more points. *The Aggies' win against Stephen F. Austin ended a 19-game road losing streak. The Aggies have lost 23 straight conference road games since an 87-78 win at Baylor in the 1994-95 regular-season finale.
Early Signees
Carlton Brown
F, 6-7, 210
San Antonio, Texas
(Temple JC/Jay HS)
Led Temple Junior College in scoring and rebounding as a freshman last season, averaging 17.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, and earned first-team all-conference and second-team all-region honors. Through four games this season, he is averaging 23.5 points and 8.1 rebounds and is ranked as one of the top 30 junior college players in the country by Rick Ball's JUCO Report. Brown played high school basketball at San Antonio Jay High School, where he played for former A&M player Steve Sylestine.
Jamaal Gilchrist
G, 6-1, 175
Middleburg, Va.
(Notre Dame Academy)
Averaged 11.4 points, 9.9 assists, 2.6 steals and 4.3 rebounds per game as a prep junior, leading the team to the state championship and earning all-state honors. He started all 45 games last season and posted highs of 26 points and 16 assists. Gilchrist is an honorable mention All-America this season by Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. Gilchrist also was recruited by Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech and George Mason.
Bernard King
G, 6-5, 180
Gibsland, La.
(Coleman HS)
Rated as the 39th best prep prospect in the country by Bob Gibbons' All-Star Sports and is rated as the 59th best prospect by Clark Francis' Hoop Scoop. King was also recruited by Purdue, Minnesota, Tulane, Seton Hall, LSU and Wyoming. As a junior last season, King averaged 30.2 points, 7.0 assists and 8.0 rebounds per game. He earned Amateur Athletic Union All-America honors last summer and was named to the all-tournament team at the AAU's Washington (D.C.) Pro-Am Tournament as a member of the Shreveport-Bossier AAU team.
Ticket Information
Courtside $15 Mezzanine $12 Balcony $10 Gen. Ad. Adult $ 8 Gen. Ad. HS & Under $ 5 Reed Arena Parking $ 4
