BAMA MEN 16-8!

The Alabama men's wheelchair basketball program continue the steady climb towards it winning ways taking three out of four collegiate games in Columbia, Missouri, January 22nd and 23rd.

The Crimson Tide are currently 16-8 overall with a 5-3 intercollegiate division record.

First up, the storied program of Texas Arlington, Movin' Mav's. UTA has seven national championship banners adorning their home court of Texas Hall. The 'bama men are currently a team of seven players.

Texas, Arlington opened the game with All American, David Wilkes scoring early and often. Yet, 'bama was able to get comfortable looks off their press break keeping the game close.

"The key for us is getting stops and not allowing second looks at our basket," said head coach Miles Thompson. "We played with strong wheel position and kept their bigs out."

Jared Arambula's 12 rebounds and Scott Douglas' 10 boards were key to the tide getting into their transition game.

At half time 'bama led 31-30.

In the second half both teams went cold from the perimeter as each dared the other to score with compressed defenses and hard interior fouls.

Brad Baugh hit the go-ahead baseline twister as Scott Douglas and Ryan Hynes hit the needed free throws as Alabama defeated the Movin' Mav's, 53-45.

"When Arambula fouled out with two minutes remaining I thought we did a good job of maintaining composure and execution. I gotta hand it to Jereme Wilroy and Zach Haney. They were big down the end," said Thompson. "This is a great program win."

Scoring leaders were Arambula 14, Hynes 13, Baugh 10, Booth 8 and Douglas 7.

That afternoon the tide had to come back and play an inspired Mizzou team on their home court.

Down as many as six early, the tide found their rhythm closer to half time taking a 29-21 lead into intermission.

In the second half the 'bama men implored their diamond zone press and began to stretch the lead. Jared Arambula and Mark Booth took turns converting off steals as the lead stayed in double figures throughout the second half.

Victory to 'bama 64-47. Arambula recorded 28 points, 10 assists and 13 rebounds. Mark Booth added 15 while Brad Baugh collected 10 points on 5-11 shooting.

The following morning UTA, again.

The Movin Mav's, angry and with a chip on their shoulder controlled the game right from the tip en route to a 17-3 early advantage. The tide continued to play hard but never recovered from UTA's initial blow and trailed at half time 39-18.

"They handed it to us," said Thompson. "One thing I've learned in this division is you earn it an inch at a time. This game reminded us all of that."

The tide outscored UTA by three in the second half but fell 65-47.

The two teams will meet one more time in the regular season in Tuscaloosa, February 12th.

That afternoon the University of Alabama defeated Mizzou 77-59, ending the weekend 3-1 in collegiate divisional play.

'Bama Ball Notes-- The men next travel to Edinboro, Penn' to take on Edinboro, Illinois and Whitewater, Wisconsin. The team was supposed to play two games against Southwest Minnesota State in Missouri but was unable to as SMSU was landlocked with weather conditions. As to date there no make up dates for SMSU games. Jared Arambula's triple double against Mizzou was a program first. Arambula also posted 30 points and 14 rebounds in the second game against Mizzou. Ryan Hynes doubled his season high with 35 points on 16-22 shooting against Lakeshore in the inaugural Bellbuckle shootout. Scott Douglas has posted three double digit rebound games in his last five, and Zach Haney was a perfect 2-2 in the second game against the Missouri Tigers.