Feb. 5, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Alabama men's basketball team fell at Vanderbilt, 79-74, Thursday night. The Crimson Tide pulled within two points at 76-74 on a three-pointer by freshman Andrew Steele with 3:13 left but were unable to take the lead as Vanderbilt eventually sealed the game at the free-throw line.

Junior Anthony Brock had the hot hand for much of the game for Alabama (13-9, 3-5 SEC), scoring a career-high 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting from behind the arc. The junior college transfer had a shot to give the Tide the lead but came up just short on a three with 0:23 seconds remaining.

Vanderbilt (14-8, 3-5 SEC) used a 17-2 run in the second half to take a 62-51 lead that it would not relinquish. Alabama shot 41 percent from the floor compared to 48 percent for the Commodores, but the Tide stayed close by making 8-of-15 three-pointers and 18-of-22 from the foul line.

"It was a tough basketball game, which you expect coming to play at Vanderbilt and Memorial Gymnasium," said interim head coach Philip Pearson. "We had two or three trips where it was a 2-or-3-point game and we didn’t get what we needed to get. We just constantly turned the ball over."

Five Alabama players scored in double figures led by Brock’s 15 points. Freshman JaMychal Green posted his second consecutive double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds to go along with three blocks. Senior Alonzo Gee and sophomore Senario Hillman added 11 points each, and junior Mikhail Torrance chipped in 10.

An offensive rebound and put back by junior Demetrius Jemison as time expired gave Alabama a 43-36 lead entering the halftime break. Trailing 12-9 at the 14:00 mark, the Tide came out of a timeout and went on a 13-2 run to claim a 22-14 lead that it would hold onto for the rest of the half. Gee, Hillman and Jemison led a balanced attack for Alabama in the first frame with seven points each.

Jermaine Beale and A.J. Ogilvy scored 20 points apiece to lead Vanderbilt. Ogilvy also grabbed 12 rebounds for a double-double while Beale dished out a game-high eight assists.

Alabama stays on the road as the team travels to Baton Rouge, La. to take on LSU Sunday, Feb. 8. The Tide gave LSU its only loss in conference-play in the season-opener at Coleman Coliseum, 65-59. Tip-off is scheduled for noon CST on Raycom Sports.