Friday, Alabama returned to Coleman Coliseum with a dominating offensive performance over Jacksonville State, winning by a score of 104-62. Alabama took a 12-point lead into halftime and never looked back.
Alabama freshman Brandon Miller once again led the Crimson Tide in scoring with a career-high 28 points. Both Nimari Burnett and Mark Sears also had big nights scoring 18 points each.
Alabama came into the matchup Friday night, leading the nation in rebounding, averaging 58.3 per game. The Crimson Tide finished the night with 49 rebounds but didn't have as many opportunities on the offensive glass tonight as they shot an impressive 51.5% from the floor.
After struggling from the 3-point line in their first three games of the season, the Crimson Tide broke out of their slump, shooting 45.7% from behind the arc, hitting 21 3-pointers, just two shy of tying the Alabama single-season record. Alabama had 12 made 3-pointers by the half, which was more than they had in any of the previous games. Brandon Miller led the charge, sinking seven of his nine 3-point attempts.
Texas Tech transfer Nimari Burnett's shooting ability has been highly praised by coach Nate Oats, and Friday Burnett had a coming-out party, recording a season-high 18 points, but more impressive was his efficiency behind the arc, hitting five of his six shots.
For the first time this season, the Crimson Tide's shooting looked like what a Nate Oats coached team should look like, and what a great time for this young team to hit their stride as they will head into the Phil Knight Invitational in Portland, Oregon starting with a matchup against Michigan State on Thanksgiving Day. Other teams in the invitational include #1 North Carolina, #25 UConn, Iowa State, Oregon, Portland, and Villanova.
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