No. 2 Alabama starts strong, never lets up in routing UNC Asheville

Field Level Media|published: Mon 4th November, 23:37 2024

Nov 4, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama forward Jarin Stevenson (15) dunks the ball against UNC Asheville at Coleman Coliseum.

Mark Sears scored 20 points in 24 minutes to help No. 2 Alabama to an easy 110-54 season-opening romp over UNC Asheville on Monday night at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Clifford Omoruyi, a transfer from Rutgers, hit all six of his shots while recording 16 points and eight rebounds for the Crimson Tide. Latrell Wrightsell Jr. added 13 points, Mouhamed Dioubate and Aden Holloway tallied 11 apiece and Jarin Stevenson and Labaron Philon each had 10 each for Alabama.

Jordan Marsh scored 13 points and Toyaz Solomon added 11 for UNC Asheville. Kameron Taylor had 10 for the Bulldogs.

UNC Asheville endured a challenging preseason after Hurricane Helene ravaged Asheville on Sept. 27 and led to devastating flooding.

The Bulldogs relocated to Charlotte, N.C. -- 130 miles to the east -- and have been practicing at area colleges and high schools, and even the practice facility of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets when it's available.

The Bulldogs connected on just 27.4 percent of their shots and made 6 of 26 from behind the arc.

Alabama made 63.3 percent of its shots and was 8 of 18 from 3-point range. The Crimson Tide owned a 55-29 rebounding edge.

Alabama led by 21 at halftime, and a layup by Holloway capped a 10-2 run and gave the Crimson Tide a 71-42 advantage with 13:42 remaining.

Just 25 seconds later, Holloway was fouled while shooting a 3-pointer and made all three attempts. That pushed the lead to 30 for the first time.

The assault continued and Omoruyi slammed home back-to-back dunks to increase the bulge to 87-47 with 8:29 left.

A 3-pointer by Wrightsell made it 100-54 with 5:01 remaining. Derrion Reid connected on a trey to push the lead over 50 with 1:28 left.

Sears scored 10 points in the first half as Alabama sped out to a 50-29 lead at the break.

Sears drained a 3-pointer to cap a game-opening 9-0 run as the Crimson Tide sprinted out of the gate.

Asheville was later within 20-13 after a jumper by Solomon with 13:01 left in the half, before the Crimson Tide scored 10 of the next 11 points. Stevenson capped the burst with a dunk to make it 30-14 with 11:11 remaining.

Alabama later ripped off 13 straight points to make it 46-20. Omoruyi made consecutive dunks to end the burst.

--Field Level Media