Men's Wheelchair Basketball Takes Three of Four at Auburn University Tournament

The University of Alabama men’s wheelchair basketball team lost to the University of Arizona in its opening game of the Auburn University Tournament presented by Hollister, the team’s first NWBA college tournament of the season.

The Crimson Tide bounced back with a pair of decisive wins over Edinboro University of Pennsylvania before finishing the tournament with a win over the host Auburn team.

In its game against Arizona, Alabama found itself trailing 37-22 at halftime after struggling shooting throughout the first half.

Alabama shot 35.7 percent (10/28) from the field in the first half, including 16.7 percent (1/6) on three-point attempts.

The Tide’s shooting improved somewhat in the second half, but they were unable to ultimately make headway as each team scored 28 points in the second half and Arizona won the game 65-50.

Alabama lost its opening game of the Auburn University Tournament presented by Hollister 65-50 to the University of Arizona on the afternoon of Dec. 15. Freshman Gabe Taylor (50) pictured.

(photo courtesy of Alabama Adapted Athletics)

Freshman Gabe Taylor scored 30 of Alabama’s 50 points and was the only member of the team with a field goal percentage above 50 percent. He shot 73.7 percent (14/19), including 66.7 percent (2/3) on three-point attempts.

He was also the only member of the team to shoot above 50 percent on threes as an Alabama team that normally only takes a couple three-point shots per game took 15, only making three of them.

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Alabama responded by decisively beating Edinboro University of Pennsylvania twice, later that afternoon and again the following morning, with the margins of victory exceeding 30 points both times.

Taylor was the Crimson Tide’s leading scorer in both games, with 22 points apiece in the 76-37 win on the afternoon of Dec. 15 and the 73-37 win the following morning.

Alabama beat Edinboro University of Pennsylvania 76-37 in the late afternoon of Dec. 16 in the Auburn University Tournament presented by Hollister. Alabama would beat the Fighting Scots again, the following morning, that time by a score of 73-37. Senior Austin Smith (11) pictured.

(photo courtesy of Alabama Adapted Athletics)

Freshman Jason Foster and sophomore Tim Houston each had double-digit scoring performances in both wins over the Fighting Scots. Foster had 12 and 14 points, respectively, and Houston had 19 and 17 points, respectively.

Freshman Preston Howell had 12 points in the second win over Edinboro.

See also: Crimson Tide Wheelchair Tennis Bounces Back with Pair of Wins at the Auburn Open

The Crimson Tide finished the tournament with a 76-58 win over Auburn.

Houston led the way in that win with 31 points. Taylor had 20 points, and senior Peter Berry had 16 points.

Alabama closed the Auburn University Tournament presented by Hollister with a 76-58 win over the host Auburn Tigers. Freshman Gabe Taylor (50) pictured.

(photo courtesy of Alabama Adapted Athletics)

Taylor also grabbed 17 rebounds in the win over Auburn as Alabama had its best rebounding performance of the tournament, grabbing 39 boards (33 on the defensive end and six on the offensive end).

Alabama heads into the Winter Break with a 9-2 record overall and a 4-1 record in the intercollegiate division, with the Tide having beaten Auburn 78-57 in a stand-alone game on Nov. 2.

The Crimson Tide has a pair of college tournaments in January, with a trio of games University of Texas at Arlington Tournament presented by Honey Stinger on Jan. 12 and another trio of games of at the UA EarlyCollege Classic held at home at Stran-Hardin Arena on Jan. 19 and 20.

Both of those tournaments will feature rematches against Arizona.