The dynamic frontcourt of JaMychal Green and Tony Mitchell combined for 35 points and 15 rebounds, and No. 17 Alabama rolled to a 64-44 victory over visiting North Florida on Friday.

Green recorded 18 points and six rebounds, while Mitchell added 17 and nine boards for the Crimson Tide (1-0).

Alabama enters the season determined to end a four-year NCAA Tournament drought after being left out in 2010 despite winning the SEC West.

A soft non-conference schedule hurt the Crimson Tide last season, but Alabama will test itself early with key matchups against Final Four team VCU, Georgetown and Kansas State.

Like its football team, Alabama's basketball team prides itself on suffocating defense and it looked in midseason form against the Ospreys (0-1). North Florida was held to 16 points on 18 percent shooting in the first half.

That allowed the Crimson Tide to take control with a 17-3 run, which helped it to a 29-16 halftime lead. The gap grew to 21 points late in the second half.

Andy Diaz scored nine points for North Florida, which shot only 21 percent.