ORLANDO | For a fleeting moment -- actually for much of the first half against Xavier in the opening game of the AdvoCare Invitational on Thursday, the University of Alabama seemed destined to beat the No. 23-ranked Musketeers with almost every bounce and offensive rebound going the Crimson Tide's way.
The Crimson Tide led for much of the first half and went into halftime trailing 27-24 against a team that entered the contest with six players scoring in double figures.
The magic was short-lived as Alabama shot 28 percent (7-25) from the field and 15 percent from beyond the arc (2-13) in the second half.