Alabama 75, Georgia State 58: Trevor Releford scored a game-high 19 points as the host Crimson Tide prevailed in the NIT Season Tip-Off to earn a trip to Madison Square Garden.
Retin Obasohan had a career-high 18 points and Levi Randolph added 10 for the Crimson Tide (3-1), who will meet Duke in the semifinals Nov. 27 in New York. Obasohan, a 6-1 sophomore guard from Antwerp, Belgium, has scored 14 or more in every game for Alabama.
Rashaad Richardson had 16 points and Manny Atkins added 14 for the Panthers (2-2), who were coming off a 96-70 victory over McNeese State on Monday. Richardson had 11 points in the first half to keep Georgia State within 38-30 at the break.
After Georgia State jumped out to a 5-0 lead on Devonta White's layup 1:27 into the game, the Crimson Tide went ahead 19-17 on a layup by Algie Key with 10 minutes to go. Atkins' layup with 9:29 left tied the game at 19 before Alabama went on a game-turning 12-0 run that was capped by Carl Engstrom's layup with 5:20 left in the half.
Obasohan's dunk gave the Tide its largest lead - 61-38 - with 9:54 to go. Alabama won the rebounding battle 40-24 en route to its third straight victory.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Alabama has won nine consecutive regular-season tournament games. ... The Panthers don't play again until Nov. 30 at Florida International. ... Obasohan has matched or set a career high for points in each of Alabama's four games.
Georgia St | Alabama | |
Rashaad Richardson 16 | Scoring | Trevor Releford 19 |
Ryan Harrow 4 | Assists | Rodney Cooper 2 |
Curtis Washington 5 | Rebounds | Shannon Hale 7 |
Manny Atkins 4 | Free Throws Made | Retin Obasohan 6 |
Devonta White 3 | Steals | Retin Obasohan 4 |
Curtis Washington 3 | Blocks | Retin Obasohan 3 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Georgia St | 58 | 40.0 | 5-17 | 9-14 | 11 | 21 | 4 | 8 | 13 |
Alabama | 75 | 48.1 | 6-19 | 19-25 | 10 | 37 | 6 | 10 | 13 |