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Unbeaten Alabama faces Tennessee State

Dec 2, 2006 - 3:38 PM Tennessee St (2-2) at No. 7 Alabama (6-0) 3:30 pm EST

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama (Ticker) -- Ronald Steele might not be able to play for Alabama but it might not matter.

The injured Steele is questionable when the seventh-ranked Crimson Tide take on the Tennessee State at home on Saturday.

In Alabama's first four games, Steele averaged 12.8 points and a team-leading 5.5 assists. However, the preseason All-American had missed the last two contests with tendinitis in his right knee.

The Crimson Tide defeated Texas Southern and Louisiana-Monroe in Steele's absence. Last season, the point guard averaged 14.3 points and 4.3 assists per game.

Without Steele, Mykal Riley and Alonzo Gee each scored a season-high 22 points to help Alabama remain undefeated with a 75-61 victory over Louisiana-Monroe in a non-conference matchup.

A 6-6 junior college transfer, Riley connected on 9-of-15 shots, including 4-of-9 from the arc. His 3-pointer with just under 12 minutes remaining capped a 17-8 surge that opened the second half, turning around the Crimson Tide's 37-36 deficit at intermission.

The Tigers split their last four contests, including a 49-47 victory over Towson State in last Saturday's round robin Las Vegas Invitational. Senior forward Clarence Matthews had 14 points and career-high five blocks.

Alabama has won all three of its matchups with Tennessee State.