GAME NOTES: The Alabama Crimson Tide look to build up some momentum as they host the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles for a non-conference matchup at Coleman Coliseum.

Alabama had the week off after its 97-84 loss at Xavier last Saturday. Coach Anthony Grant's squad will try to regain its footing and improve to 6-2 before its visit to Charles Koch Arena for a bout with Wichita State on Tuesday. The Crimson Tide play at a rapid pace, which has led to the second-highest scoring average (79.9) in the SEC, but they also rank among the bottom of the conference in scoring defense (74.0), field goal percentage defense (.467) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.368).

Alabama set a season-high against the Musketeers with 29 personal fouls, 20 of which came after the break. The Crimson Tide also set a season-low for points in a half (30) in the opening 20 minutes, before recording a new season-high for points in a half with 54 in the second stanza. Despite the loss, Alabama made good on 52.8 percent of its field goal attempts.

The Golden Eagles come into Saturday's action on a two-game winning streak, but they are 0-3 in true road tests this season. Alabama marks the first of two SEC foes for the Golden Eagles this season with the other meeting set for Dec. 19 against Tennessee. TTU is scoring 74.8 ppg on 44.6 percent efficiency from the floor. However, coach Steve Payne's squad has been far less productive outside of Cookeville, as the team averaged 63.7 ppg in its three away games.

Alabama is 5-0 versus TTU in history. The majority of the series took place in the 1990s.

Three players own double-digit scoring averages for Alabama. Guard Levi Randolph is spearheading the charge with team-high averages in scoring (18.9 ppg), rebounding (5.3 rpg), assists (2.7 apg) and minutes (33.3 mpg) through the Tide's seven contests. The 6-foot-5 senior enters Saturday's game leading the SEC in scoring average and free-throw shooting (97.6 percent). Tulane transfer Ricky Tarrant is second on the team in scoring (15.3 ppg), while senior guard Rodney Cooper is third at 12.0 ppg.

Junior Charles Jackson has been a force on the interior for TTU. The 6-10 center leads the Golden Eagles in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. He also leads the OVC in all rebounding categories and ranks second in the nation with seven double-doubles. Senior forward Dwan Caldwell is just behind Jackson in the scoring column (13.8 ppg) and also grabs 4.6 boards per outing.

The Golden Eagles will need to figure out a way to slow the game down and keep Alabama from scoring too many easy points in transition. The Tide may have trouble preventing Jackson and Caldwell from getting to the rim for easy buckets and rebounds, but their guard play will overwhelm the Golden Eagles' backcourt.