Stephen F. Austin @ Alabama preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 30, 2018 ) Alabama 79, Stephen F. Austin 69

Alabama faced tough competition while losing two of three games at the Battle 4 Atlantis last week, and the Crimson Tide look to apply the lessons learned when they return to action at home Friday against Stephen F. Austin. Alabama lost to seventh-ranked North Carolina and Iowa State in its first two games before leaving the Bahamas with an 83-68 triumph over Southern Miss, as senior guard James Bolden scored a season-high 23 points.

Bolden shot 6-for-8 from 3-point range in the victory and teamed up with sophomore guard Kira Lewis Jr., who scored 20 points and finished 4-for-7 from behind the arc, to lead a 53.8 percent shooting performance by the Crimson Tide. “I told these guys this would be a character game,” Alabama coach Nate Oats told reporters postgame. “We start 0-2. Do you have the character to come out and play as hard as you’re supposed to, being banged up, playing a third game in three days.” Stephen F. Austin shook up college basketball on Nov. 26 with a stunning 85-83 overtime victory at then top-ranked Duke. The Lumberjacks have also beaten Drexel, and their only loss is a 67-59 defeat at Rutgers on Nov. 20.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (7-1): The Lumberjacks are seventh in the nation in scoring offense at 85.8 points entering Thursday and are one of the better shooting teams in the country, connecting on 50.6 percent of their shots from the field (14th in the nation through Wednesday). Senior guard Kevon Harris leads three players averaging double-figures scoring at 19.4 points per game. Junior forward Gavin Kensmil averages 13.5 points and 8.4 rebounds on 65.2 percent shooting from the field.

ABOUT ALABAMA (3-4): Bolden, a transfer from West Virginia, has scored 33 points in his past two games after totaling just 20 in his first four contests. Lewis averages 19.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and a team-high 4.6 assists, and is the only SEC player entering the weekend averaging at least 18 points and 4.5 assists. Junior guard John Petty Jr. played well in the Bahamas, averaging 22.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals in the three games while shooting 53.8 percent from the field.

TIP-INS

1. The Crimson Tide are 19th in the nation in 3-pointers made per game (10) through Wednesday.

2. Alabama shot 72.7 percent from the field in the second half against Southern Miss, connecting on 8-of-11 shots from 3-point range.

3. Stephen F. Austin leads the country in steals per game (12.8), and senior G John Comeaux leads the team at 2.8.

PREDICTION: Stephen F. Austin 81, Alabama 77