Southern Miss @ Alabama preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 4, 2015 ) Alabama 58, Southern Miss 55

Alabama looks to salvage something out of its trip to Paradise Island in the Bahamas when it takes on struggling Southern Mississippi in the seventh-place game at the Battle 4 Atlantis on Friday. The Crimson Tide were competitive while losing to fourth-ranked North Carolina in the first round before giving up a tournament record in points Thursday in a 104-89 setback against Iowa State.

First-year coach Nate Oats was pleased with the defensive effort versus North Carolina, but Alabama gave up at least 50 points in each half and 15 makes from 3-point range against the Cyclones to open the consolation round. “We’ve got to start focusing on all the aspects of the game, all the little details,” Oats told reporters. “Once we get a group that’s got a concerted effort to play defense for 40 minutes, I think we’ll be all right.” Southern Miss suffered an 81-56 loss to Seton Hall on Thursday, managing only 25 points in the second half and allowing 50.9 percent shooting overall along with 10 3-pointers. The Golden Eagles are 0-5 against Division I opponents, but coach Jay Ladner told reporters after Thursday’s game: “I was proud of our team’s effort. I don’t think the final score was indicative of how hard fought and tough game it was.”

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT ALABAMA (2-4): Junior guard John Petty Jr. poured in 34 points against Iowa State and boasts 73 in the last three games after managing 23 combined in the first three this season. Petty averages 16 points - second on the team behind sophomore guard Kira Lewis Jr. (19.0, team high 29 assists) - and tops the Crimson Tide with 7.2 rebounds while connecting on 19 of his 40 tries from 3-point range. Freshman guard Jaden Shackelford is scoring 11.8 per game, but has managed four points in each of the first two contests in the tournament.

ABOUT SOUTHERN MISS (2-5): Senior forward Boban Jacdonmi tops the team in scoring (13.6) and sophomore guard Gabe Watson is the only other player in double figures (10.4) after pouring in 18 against Seton Hall. Freshman forward Artur Konontsuk is averaging 9.7 points, but was blanked Thursday on 0-of-4 from the field, and junior guard LaDavius Draine (9.9 points) has scored 33 in the tournament. Senior forward Leonard Harper-Baker leads the Golden Eagles in rebounding (7.6) and sophomore guard Jay Malone dishes out a team-high 4.6 assists.

TIP-INS

1. Alabama senior G James Bolden matched his season high with 10 points Thursday, including a pair of 3-pointers.

2. Southern Miss sophomore F Tyler Stevenson is 12-for-23 from the field in the last three games.

3. The Crimson Tide have won 22 of the previous 27 meetings, including the last six capped by a victory during the 2015-16 season.

PREDICTION: Alabama 78, Southern Miss 68