Alabama @ Samford preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 16, 2009 ) Samford 45, Alabama 60

Alabama has played more on the road than at home this season and that trend continues Wednesday when it meets Samford in Birmingham, Ala. Alabama fell to 1-4 away from home and to 0-3 against teams from a major conference after Saturday's 73-71 loss at Penn State, but first-year Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats remains positive.

"It was a tough game,'' Oats told reporters Saturday. "We just ran out of gas there at the end. I thought we outplayed them for 32 minutes. Proud of the effort our guys gave against a quality team." Crimson Tide sophomore guard Kira Lewis Jr. paces the team with 17.3 points and 4.6 assists after scoring a season-low seven Saturday with seven rebounds and six assists. The Bulldogs face somewhat of a quick turnaround after losing 94-73 at Hawaii on Sunday. Senior guard Josh Sharkey (club-most 16.8 points) led the nation in steals (4.1) and was second in assists (9.1) entering Tuesday after recording 21 points, six steals and five assists Sunday, giving him 29 assists, 18 takeaways and 15 turnovers in his last three games.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT ALABAMA (4-5): Junior guard John Petty (14.1 points, team-high 6.9 rebounds per game) scored seven and had six boards in 19 minutes before fouling out Saturday. Senior guard James Bolden (9.3 points) followed up a season-high 23-point performance in an 83-68 victory over Southern Miss on Nov. 29 with 15 against Penn State, missing a 78-68 victory over Stephen F. Austin on Dec. 6 with hand and wrist injuries. The Crimson Tide have five players averaging at least 4.5 rebounds with Lewis at 5.6 and junior forward Alex Reese grabbing 5.1 after recording 12 points and eight boards Saturday.

ABOUT SAMFORD (6-6): Senior forward Jalen Dupree averages 12.9 points - 16 in his last three games - and a team-high seven rebounds. Senior guard Brandon Austin (13.8 points, 5.3 rebounds) scored 36 points in his last two games, including 15 on Sunday. Sophomore forward Robert Allen (13.3 points, six rebounds) scored a season-low three versus Hawaii after averaging 12.8 in his previous five games.

TIP-INS

1. The Crimson Tide was the fourth-fastest team in the nation at 78.6 possessions per game entering Tuesday, according to kenpom.com.

2. Alabama averages 40.2 rebounds compared to Samford's 40.1 while each team yields 38.7 boards.

3. The Crimson Tide play Belmont in Huntsville, Ala., on Saturday before hosting Richmond on Dec. 29 in their final non-conference game in 2019 prior to opening the SEC season Jan. 4 at Florida.

PREDICTION: Alabama 78, Samford 77