In recent college basketball games, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats secured a victory over Stetson, with Dan Skillings achieving a career night of 27 points and 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, the University of Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team, playing on the SEC Network at 3 p.m. CT, ended their losing streak by defeating Eastern Kentucky with a significant margin. Alabama's impressive performance included a strong start, with Rylan Griffen, Davin Cosby, and Michael Moreno contributing notably to the team leading 61-32 at halftime and ultimately winning the game 111-67. This victory marked the second-highest point total in the Nate Oats coaching era. Alabama capitalized on Eastern Kentucky’s weak three-point defense, which ranks 342nd in the country, by making a high percentage of their three-point shots early in the game. Coach Nate Oats praised the team for playing 'really good basketball' for 36 minutes, leading into a positive Christmas break. In another game, Rick Pitino, coaching StJohnsBBall, expressed satisfaction with his team's improvement and their performance, which he described as 'playing their hearts out'.
Found this interesting. Rick Pitino has offered glowing praise of UConn for most of the year. Today, he called them "decent." Said there are a lot of decent teams. But nobody he feels is great. #sjubb
‘I’m going to have a really good Christmas because of the improvement of the basketball team ‘ Rick Pitino on @StJohnsBBall Said the guys ‘played their hearts out’ https://t.co/rL3z4LOnLE
Here is everything Nate Oats said after Alabama basketball's 111-67 home win over Eastern Kentucky. "It's a good win going into Christmas. We needed a win like that. I thought for 36 minutes, we played really good basketball." 🔗: https://t.co/1yDt63v7n6 https://t.co/OWuMmSuAQP
Alabama halts skid with 111-67 romp over Eastern Kentucky https://t.co/IR6meGZW3H https://t.co/JkPD0aaKCb
Alabama gets back in win column after defeating Eastern Kentucky https://t.co/fdvbt0iIAN https://t.co/TRp4X24QPE
Alabama beats Eastern Kentucky, 111-67. Second-most points of the Nate Oats era.
Alabama 102, EKU 65 (3:21, 2H) Davin Cosby knocks down his third 3 of the day to push UA over 100 points for the fourth time this year.
Alabama 94, EKU 60 (6:51, 2H) Davin Cosby makes back-to-back 3s to give the Tide its largest lead of the day. Timeout, Colonels.
Alabama 78, EKU 56 (11:50, 2H) UA finally found some offense this half, but Michael Moreno keeps making shots for the Colonels. He is up to 18 points, is 6-9 from 3.
Alabama 61, EKU 45 (15:59, 2H) Rough start after the half. The Tide has yet to score in the 2H; is 0-7 from the field, 0-5 from 3 this half.
Alabama 61, EKU 40 (18:10, 2H) Colonels open the 2H on an 8-0 run, and Nate Oats calls a timeout.
Alabama leads Eastern Kentucky, 61-32, at halftime. Team record for points is 123 in 1971 vs. USF.
Alabama 49, EKU 25 (3:42, 1H) Latrell Wrightsell knocks down the 10th triple of the day for Alabama. Rylan Griffen leads the team with 14 points on 4-of-5 from deep.
Alabama 41, EKU 18 (8:19, 1H) Rylan Griffen drains his third 3 of the day (3-4), and the Tide is now 8-11 from 3. Timeout, Colonels.
Alabama 29, EKU 13 (11:45 1H) Five different UA players have hit 3s in the first eight minutes, and the Tide is now 5-of-7 from deep.
Nate Oats said Alabama needed to take advantage of Eastern Kentucky’s three-point defense — ranked 342nd in the country — and they’ve done that so far. Tide opens 5-of-6 from deep and leads EKU, 25-11.
Alabama 15, EKU 7 (15:59, 1H) A much better shooting start for the Tide, which is 6-8 from the floor and 3-4 from three thus far.
Alabama will look to bounce back today against Eastern Kentucky. Live updates from Tuscaloosa: https://t.co/UF2g2Mf39V https://t.co/gnx9ulWmtd
Happy Festivus from Coleman. Alabama faces Eastern Kentucky at 3 p.m. CT on SEC Network. Join the discussion on @BOL_On3: https://t.co/oacvEJIHcu https://t.co/Gucp33Gype
Alabama looking to change its luck vs. Eastern Kentucky https://t.co/8QXXMy1ZTp https://t.co/0opF8ZTyRl
Christmas came early for #Bearcats Dan Skillings who finished with a career night 27 pts & 10 rebounds Here’s my postgame interview with him as the Cats beat Stetson tonight: https://t.co/mDYejG5wfZ