Alabama
2-0,0-0SEC
Liberty
1-1,0-0ASUN
Four Score in Double Figures to Lead No. 20/19 Alabama Past Liberty, 95-59
11/11/2022 10:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Mark Sears (22) and Brandon Miller (20) each scored in double figures to lead the Crimson Tide
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama men's basketball team dominated the glass and got hot from three-point range as it cruised to a 95-59 win over Liberty Friday night at Coleman Coliseum. Four Crimson Tide players scored in double figures on the way to the 36-point win and a 2-0 start to the season
Alabama finished the game with 10 three-pointers (10-of-22) and averaged 1.36 points per possession. The Tide also controlled the boards for a second straight game. Despite not having anyone with more than eight rebounds, Alabama owned a 45-23 edge on the glass.
Another W in the books??#RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketball pic.twitter.com/nhmlAlxXPN
— Alabama Men's Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) November 12, 2022
Freshman Brandon Miller and graduate transfer Mark Sears led the Tide in scoring with 22 and 20, respectively. The duo also posted eight rebounds apiece to lead UA's lineup.
Freshmen Rylan Griffen and Jaden Bradley also reached double figures in the victory. Griffen scored 13 of his 16 total points in the second half, finishing 5-of-9 from the field and 4-of-4 from behind the charity stripe.
Head Coach Nate Oats Postgame Comments
"That was a pretty dominating win. I was happy with our guys' effort, particularly on the defensive end of the floor. We put heavy emphasis on (Darius) McGhee, and besides those two threes he had early in the second half, I thought our guys did a really good job on him. Nimari (Burnett) did a great job to start, and Jaden Bradley came in and did a great job. I think they struggle a little bit with our length and athleticism. I wasn't that concerned with the three-point shooting last game. I've seen us make shots a lot in practice. We just told them when to take the right shots, you know, shoot them rhythm and trust your work. All in all, I thought it was good. We've got stuff to work on still, but that's a quality team that's picked to win the ASUN. I mean, they're going to go win a lot of games."
Team Stats
- After outrebounding Longwood by 29 (67-38) in the season opener, the Crimson Tide outrebounded Liberty by 22 (45-23) Friday night
- UA is averaging 61.0 rebounds per game and outrebounding the competition by 25.5 boards a contest (61.0-35.5)
- Sears' 22 points came after he shot 8-of-11 from the field, including knocking down 4-of-5 from three
- Three Alabama freshmen (Jaden Bradley-10, Rylan Griffen-16, Brandon Miller-20) combined to score 46 of the team's 95 points
- Alabama shot 51.9 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from beyond the arc while holding Liberty to 32.7 percent shooting and 27.6 percent from deep
- UA's reserves outscored Liberty's bench 38-16
- The Crimson Tide's starting five was the same as its season opener on Monday: Charles Bediako, Nimari Burnett, Noah Clowney, Brandon Miller and Mark Sears
First Half
- Miller led all players in the first half with 11 points, making 3-of-3 from the three-point line
- The Tide shot 46 percent (6-of-13) from three-point range
- Alabama went on an 11-0 run midway through the half to jump out a 24-14 lead
- Seven different players scored for the Tide in the half
- Alabama recorded seven assists on 12 made field goals
- The Crimson Tide led 40-31 at halftime
They call him @JBsmoovve for a reason!@SECNetwork | #RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketball pic.twitter.com/c2xgfhjyfo
— Alabama Men's Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) November 12, 2022
Second Half
- The Tide outscored the Flames 55-28 over the final 20 minutes
- Alabama shot 60 percent from the field in the second half, including knocking down 4-of-9 from beyond the arc
- The Tide went on a 17-2 run midway through the second half to take the game out of reach
- Sears and Griffen both got hot, posting 15 and 13 points in the half, respectively
- Sears connected on 5-of-6 in the half, including a perfect 2-of-2 from three
For all the latest information on the team, follow AlabamaMBB on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. General athletic news can be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.
