Nate Oats updates status of Derrion Reid and Houston Mallette before Oklahoma game

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 5 Alabama basketball opens conference play against No. 12 Oklahoma on Saturday. In the Crimson Tide’s last game, forward Derrion Reid was out due to an ankle injury, and guard Houston Mallette missed the game with an illness.
During his Friday press conference, Alabama head coach Nate Oats gave an update on their statuses ahead of Saturday’s game.
“Derrion and Houston both practiced today,” Oats said. “Derrion was somewhat limited. Houston was just an illness, so he’s getting his wind back, trying to get his energy back, so he’ll be available. Probably not quite as much as in the past, just because he’s still coming off the illness. Derrion with the ankle injury, looked better today than yesterday. They’ll both in all likelihood be available unless there’s some type of flare-up or something from practice that we don’t anticipate.”
Reid has been one of Alabama’s best defenders this season despite being only a freshman. The 6-foot-8 former 5-star is averaging 7.5 points and 3.7 rebounds on just under 18 minutes per game, while receiving multiple starts and being trusted on the floor in late-game situations a number of times this year.
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Mallette has only played four games for the Tide this season, originally announced to be redshirting. He was taken off the redshirt during Alabama’s game against North Carolina on Dec. 4 following Latrell Wrightsell‘s season-ending Achilles injury. In his four games played this year, Mallette has shot 50 percent from beyond the arc on 10 attempts, playing barely over 10 minutes per game.
Last game, in the absence of Reid and Mallette, Alabama cruised to a 105-82 win over South Dakota State.
Saturday’s game against No. 12 Oklahoma will tip off at 5 p.m. CT and will air on SEC Network.
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