Junior guard Trevor Releford scored a game-high 22 points and dished out six assists to lead Alabama to a 59-46 victory over Charleston Southern Friday in Coleman Coliseum.

Releford made seven of his 15 shots, including 5-for-8 from beyond the arc.

The Crimson Tide never trailed in the second half, improving to 5-0 on the season. Levi Randolph scored 10 and Devonta Pollard added nine points. Trevor Lacey added nine points, six assists, five rebounds and five steals.

“You have to give Charleston Southern credit tonight,” head coach Anthony Grant said. “They came in and really got it. I was saying before the game that this is probably one of the hardest playing teams in terms of their ability to make hustle plays, offensive rebounds and their style of play. We knew that it was going to be a battle. I’m proud of our guys for their effort tonight. I thought in the second half our defense really carried us.”

The Tide led 36-27 at halftime after opening with a 9-0 run and closing with a 10-0 run.

The Buccaneers held the Tide scoreless for the first 5:39 of the second half, cutting the deficit to four points. But that was the closest it got.

The game got a little chippy towards in the second half when Grant picked up a technical foul with 5:50 left in the game for arguing an offensive foul called on center Moussa Gueye. After the game, Grant said he “overreacted” to the call.

For the game, Alabama shot 40.4 percent (23-of-57) from the floor, including 38.1 percent (8-of-21) from three-point range. The Tide outscored Charleston Southern on the fast break 12-6, as well as 30-18 in the paint. Alabama also had a season-high 17 assists.

Alabama played without sophomore forward Rodney Cooper, who is suffering from shoulder tendinitis. Grant said Cooper injured him in New York and is day-to-day.

Alabama will face Lamar Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. in Coleman Coliseum.