WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The No. 24 Alabama men’s basketball team played its final exhibition game on the road against Wake Forest, where the Crimson Tide fell to the Demon Deacons, 88-80, Sunday afternoon at the LJVM Coliseum. All proceeds from the contest will support stroke research at the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Stroke Center.

Aaron Estrada led the way for the Tide, scoring 24 points, shooting 50 percent (10-20) from the field along with six rebounds and three assists. Wake Forest erased a 13-point halftime deficit to come back in the second half led by Cameron Hildreth’s game-high 38 points. 

HEAD COACH NATE OATS POSTGAME COMMENTS

“I want to thank Coach Forbes in partnering with us for this meaningful event and trying to raise money for a good cause. In regards to the game, I am disappointed with today’s result and how complacent we got after leading by 19 points towards the end of the first half. We have a lot to clean up before next week’s season opener so we will get back in the gym and gear up for Morehead State.”

TEAM STATS 

• Alabama had four players (Aaron Estrada, Grant Nelson, Nick Pringle and Sam Walters) score double figures led by Estrada’s 24 points
• After recording 11 assists in the first half, the Tide posted just one assist in the final 20 minutes
• Alabama outscored Wake Forest’s bench 24-6
• Nick Pringle grabbed a team-high nine rebounds
• The Tide committed 18 turnovers

FIRST HALF 

• The Tide had a balanced scoring attack with six players scoring in the first 20 minutes led by Aaron Estrada with 16 points
• Midway through the half UA went on a 10-0 run to take a 28-21 lead 
• From the 8:05-mark to the 4-minute mark Alabama went on an 11-2 run 
• Alabama had 18 points off the bench while limiting Wake Forest to just two points
• The Crimson Tide shot 62 percent in the first half (20-32) dishing out 10 assists off 20 made field goals
• The Tide’s largest lead of the first half was 19 points (52-33) with 1:22 left in the half

SECOND HALF 

• Wake Forest went on an 21-5 run to start the second half, take a 57-55 lead by the first media timeout (15:36)
• Alabama was able to go on an 8-0 run late in the game, cutting Wake Forest’s lead to just one point (77-76) with 3:23 left in the game
• Alabama shot 1-10 from three-point range in the second half

UP NEXT 

• Alabama will begin the 2023-24 regular season at Coleman Coliseum on Nov. 6 against Morehead State
• The Crimson Tide will tip-off against the Eagles at 7 p.m. CT with the contest airing live on the SEC Network+

Gallery: (10-29-2023) 10-29-23 MBB vs Wake Forest

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