Alabama Basketball G28 vs Auburn

Alabama's season ended Tuesday night at Creighton.

(file photo)

What started with low expectations, a seat belt and a surprise February run ended Tuesday night in Nebraska.

Alabama's sixth loss in eight games put a bow on Avery Johnson's first season of a reenergized program. Creighton delivered the final blow with a 72-54 win in the opening round of the NIT.

The Bluejays controlled the tempo all evening as the Tide offense went long stretches without any production.

Alabama (18-15) shot a season-low 28.3 percent from the field while being outrebounded 45-32.

Alabama coach Avery Johnson told a postgame radio audience he saw a lack of energy from his team Tuesday night.

"This team, I basically haven't seen since Dayton," Johnson said referencing an 80-48 loss in the second game of the season.

It was the final performance from Alabama's fifth-year senior Retin Obasohan. The first-team All-SEC performer started slow to finish with 13 points on a night dominated by the hosts. He checked out with 1:01 left to hugs from teammates.

Creighton led by as many as 18 points and Alabama got no closer than 10 in the final 10 minutes.

"We weren't here today," Johnson said, "in a lot of ways."

Justin Coleman's 18 points led all Alabama scorers followed by Obasohan's 13 and Shannon Hale's nine. Arthur Edwards also completed his collegiate career with a two-point game on 1-for-9 shooting.

Creighton (19-14) got 20 points from Maurice Watson Jr. and 15 from Khyri Thomas.

First half struggles

Alabama had a slim 7-6 lead at the first TV timeout before things went south. The numbers say it all.

By halftime, the Tide was shooting 24.1 percent (7-for-29). It missed nine straight at one point, going almost seven minutes without a field goal before Justin Coleman's 3 with 3:03 left in the half.

Those would be the last points before halftime. The Tide closed the period making just 1 of the last 15 attempts from the field. From 3-point range, the first half success rate was 19 percent (3-for-16).

Creighton led 30-19 at halftime with 10 of the Tide points coming off the Bluejays' nine turnovers. The 19 points were a season low for the Tide in a first half.

Then in the second half, Creighton's lead stretched to 18 when Alabama went 2-for-15 at one point.

Obasohan missing early

Alabama's leading scorer was missing for almost seven minutes early in the game. He didn't take his first shot until the 5:56 mark. His two free-throws with 5:45 left were Obasohan's only two points of the half.

Obasohan had two points, two assists and was 0-for-3 from the field at halftime. He then scored the first basket of the second half in the opening seconds.

Justin Coleman's moment

Not much was working for Alabama, but Coleman made a quick statement in the second half. The sophomore guard nailed three straight 3s, the last of which cut it to 11 points with 8:40 left. His two free throws immediately after gave him 11 straight Alabama points.

Coleman also had a big game last week in the Ole Miss win at the SEC tournament. His 15 points included a pair of 3s.

Johnson said players like Coleman, Riley Norris and the incoming players like Nick King give him reason to believe for the future.

"This isn't a microwave situation," Johnson said. "We knew it was going to take a year or two or three to get this program going the way I know it should be going. Again, a step in the right direction. Still not satisfied with how we played in the last two weeks of the season. But I know we're capable of playing a lot better."