Naismith Trophy Watch List candidate Brandon Miller came through with a double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, to help No. 20 Alabama roll past Longwood 75-54 Monday night in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
After ending last season on a four-game losing streak, the Crimson Tide got back on track to start the 2022-23 season.
Mark Sears also had a double-double, with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Rylan Griffen scored 14 points for the Crimson Tide, who shot 39.1 percent from the field. Noah Clowney finished with nine points and 11 rebounds, just missing on a double-double.
Michael Christmas led the Lancers with 12 points. Longwood shot just 26.8 percent from the floor and was outrebounded 67-38.
With the exception of trailing 3-2 after a 3-pointer by Christmas, the Crimson Tide were ahead of the Lancers.
They took their first double-digit lead of the night on a 3-pointer by Griffen with 7:17 left in the half. His shot gave the Crimson Tide a 24-12 lead.
Alabama led by as many as 16 in the first half after Miller scored on a layup that put the Tide up 30-14 with 4:50 to play.
The Lancers, though, didn't back down and closed the gap to 34-26 at the half when Isaiah Wilkins nailed a 3-pointer with 53 seconds left.
Alabama shot 45.2 percent in the opening half of play but was just 1-of-13 from 3-point range. Longwood connected on only 25.7 percent of its shots in the first 20 minutes and went 4-for-8 from 3-point land.
Griffen hit a 3-pointer with 18:21 left that pushed the Alabama lead to 35-26. Just under two minutes later, Clowney buried a 3-pointer that gave the Tide a 42-27 advantage.
Miller's two free throws with 11:14 to go made the score 50-33 in favor of the Crimson Tide. Jaden Bradley stretched the lead to 20 at 64-44, hitting a jumper with 4:30 left in the game.
--Field Level Media
Longwood | Alabama | |
Michael Christmas 12 | Scoring | Rylan Griffen 14 |
Walyn Napper 3 | Assists | Mark Sears 5 |
Isaiah Wilkins 6 | Rebounds | Brandon Miller 13 |
Leslie Nkereuwem 3 | Free Throws Made | Mark Sears 7 |
Walyn Napper 3 | Steals | Charles Bediako 3 |
Michael Christmas 1 | Blocks | Nick Pringle 3 |