In Alabama’s conference home opener, the Crimson Tide defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks 57-47, holding a Gamecocks offense that normally averages 74 points per game to just 47.
With the win, Alabama improves to 2-0 in the Southeastern Conference, while head coach Anthony Grant goes to 3-0 all-time against South Carolina. The Tide’s conference record is its best start since 2002, the last year Alabama won the SEC Championship.
“This is a 16-game schedule in the league,” Grant said. “This was one game in the league. We understand that. We’ll keep it in perspective, and we have a very tough road game coming up on Saturday, so we’ll lock in and take it one game at a time.”
The Tide is also perfect in home play for the season at 9-0, with a 10-6 overall record.
Alabama’s defense started out strong by forcing a shot clock violation on South Carolina’s opening offensive possession.
“It really set the tone for us,” sophomore Tony Mitchell said. “It gave us a whole lot of confidence to let them know that we can play defense for 35 seconds.”
With Coleman Coliseum alive for the 2010-2011 SEC home opener, Alabama got off to a fast start offensively as well as defensively. Junior JaMychal Green, who went 4-for-9 in the first half, hit the Tide’s first six points. Mitchell went 5-for-8 in the first half, accounting for 10 of the team’s 26 points.
The first half favored the Tide, with the team leading by as many as eight. Alabama only trailed once in the first half, when a field goal put the Gamecocks up 19-18. After that field goal, however, Alabama went on an 8-2 run to maintain the lead for the rest of the half.
“In the first half, you look up and I felt from a performance standpoint, we were playing extremely well, and it’s a one-point game,” Grant said. “That’s a credit to South Carolina in their resilience and ability to keep themselves in position to win.”
In the second half, Alabama came out strong again, scoring the first basket of the half, keeping the pace of the game fast. The Tide managed to keep the lead throughout, leading by as many as 10 at various points.
“I thought our guys continued that same energy and effort on the defensive end, and we were able to have a little more success on the offensive end,” Grant said about how his players came out in the second half.
Green, who averages almost 15 points per game, ended with 20 points along with three blocks and one steal.
South Carolina put up a fight, hitting three-pointers just as Alabama would gain momentum. While the Gamecocks had six three-pointers, the Tide didn’t hit any of its three-attempts.
Alabama takes the court again Saturday against Arkansas and returns home to face Kentucky next Tuesday with tip off set for 8 p.m.
