It was the Keon Ellis show on Sunday afternoon in Coleman Coliseum as Alabama basketball downed Louisiana 73-68 in the Crimson Tide's preseason charity exhibition.
Ellis recorded 21 points, four rebounds and three assists in the Alabama victory, including a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. He also recorded a block and four steals.
While the game wasn't broadcast on radio or television, all proceeds from ticket sales to the event benefitted United Way of West Alabama.
The first half didn't get off to the start that the Crimson Tide wanted, with Alabama trailing 16-7 after the first 10 minutes of play. However, an 8-0 run that began with five minutes left in the half brought the Crimson Tide back within a point. The run began with senior guard Keon Ellis' second three-pointer of the game, but was highlighted by a dunk by Keon Ambrose-Hylton that brought Coleman Coliseum to its feet and back into the action.
However, the Ragin' Cajuns had no plans to surrender its lead. In the last three minutes, Louisiana hit four threes to maintain an edge over the Crimson Tide.
After the first 20 minutes, Alabama trailed 33-32 heading into the locker room. Furman transfer forward Noah Gurley led the Crimson Tide with 11 points. True freshman guard J.D. Davison placed second with nine points in the first half.
Gurley, Ambrose-Hylton and junior guard Jaden Shackelford all tied for the team-lead in rebounds with four apiece.
In the second half, it was Ellis' time to dial the notch up to 100. In the first seven minutes, Ellis was all over the court and established himself as the best two-way player on the court. With seven points, an assist, a block and a steal, it was the Keon Ellis show heading into the under-12 media timeout.
With 11:24 left, Ellis stepped up to the line and hit three free throws after being on the receiving end of a foul. Ellis' time at the charity stripe gave the Crimson Tide its first lead since the 3:39 mark of the first half.
At 10:41, Shackelford finally made his first basket, a three-point shot that hit the rim, bounced off of the backboard and rolled back in. With momentum on Alabama's side heading into the final 10 minutes of play, the crowd and the Crimson Tide bench were back in the game.
Shackelford' three began a 15-3 run that solidified Alabama's lead and gave the Crimson Tide a little bit of breathing room. After a three by Louisiana, Ellis answered with his fifth three. A dunk by Miles a minute later increased the Alabama lead to 10 points — the Crimson Tide's largest lead of the afternoon.
The Ragin' Cajuns were able to pull within a point with under a minute left, but the Crimson Tide lead proved to ultimately be insurmountable as Davison recorded a layup to put Alabama up by three with 25.4 seconds left.
The ensuing possession by Louisiana was unsuccessful, and Alabama won 73-68.
This story will be updated with stats, quotes, analysis and video from Sunday's game.
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