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Davidson, Alabama go for third straight win

Dec 20, 2006 - 2:38 PM No. 10 Alabama (9-1) at NC State (7-2) 6:30 pm EST

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) - Alabama's Jermareo Davidson has had a tough time lately, but plays his second game after missing time for personal reasons as Alabama meets North Carolina State on Wednesday.

After a one-game absence, Davidson returned for Saturday's 77-64 win over Southern Mississippi and had 25 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocked shots. He needs 22 points to reach the 1,000-point plateau.

If anything basketball at least serves as an escape for Davidson who has had to deal with a pair of personal tragedies. On November 7 his brother was shot in the head in Atlanta and remains in the hospital. Five days later his girlfriend was killed in a car accident.

Alonzo Gee added 20 points for the Crimson Tide, which shot 50 percent from the field while holding Southern Mississippi to only 31 percent.

Alabama has only lost only one road game this season, a 99-85 defeat at Notre Dame on December 7. The Irish are the only club to score more than 65 points against Alabama this season.

The Wolfpack, 7-0 at home this season, comes off a 80-65 victory over Mount St. Mary's. Courtney Fells and Ben McCauley led North Carolina State with 16 points apiece. Gavin Grant added 15 points for the Wolfpack, who have won two straight.