Alabama vs. UNC Asheville: Live updates, score, highlights
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 2 Alabama will tip off its 2024-25 season tonight against UNC Asheville. The Crimson Tide will host the Bulldogs at Coleman Coliseum at 8 p.m. (ESPNU).
After reaching its first-ever Final Four last year, Alabama is ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25 Poll, its highest preseason ranking in school history. The Tide is also picked to finish first in the SEC in Nate Oats’ sixth season, as he has arguably his best roster. Alabama is the only team in the country with six players who have scored 1,000 points in their careers.
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Final: Alabama 110, UNC Asheville 54
11/4/2024, 10:13:25 PMMark Sears led seven Alabama players who scored in double figures with 20 points on 6-of-8 from the field. The Crimson Tide opens the 2024-25 season with a convincing win over the Bulldogs.
Tide cracks 100 with five minutes to go
11/4/2024, 9:59:05 PMLatrell Wrightsell knocked down Alabama’s seventh 3-pointer of the game to give the Tide 100 points on the scoreboard. UA reached the century mark on only seven made 3s. It did, however, dominate in the paint, outscoring UNC Asheville, 50-18, at the under-4 media timeout.
Alabama 101, UNC Asheville 54 (3:54, 2H)
Alabama leads by 30-plus
11/4/2024, 9:44:12 PMThe Crimson Tide is shooting nearly 70 percent from the field and 50 percent from three in the second half. Alabama has only made six 3s in the game (on 15 attempts) and still leads by 30-plus points. Its current 34-point advantage is its largest of the evening.
Alabama 81, UNC Asheville 47 (10:24, 2h)
UA opens 2H 3-of-4 from the field
11/4/2024, 9:27:00 PMAlabama only attempted four shots in the first four minutes of the second half but made three of them. Meanwhile, UNC Asheville was 4-of-8 from the field but made three straight before the under-16 media timeout. Cliff Omoruyi (6) and Mark Sears (5) scored all 11 of the second-half points thus far.
Alabama 61, UNC Asheville 40 (15:48, 2H)
Halftime: Alabama 50, UNC Asheville 29
11/4/2024, 9:02:18 PMAlabama closed out the first half making five of its last seven field goals, while UNC Asheville was 2-of-13. The Tide shot 62 percent from the field compared to 29 percent for the Bulldogs. Add that in with the 27-15 rebounding edge for Alabama and you get a 21-point halftime lead.
Crimson Tide rolling again
11/4/2024, 8:49:58 PMAlabama made four straight field goals, including back-to-back dunks from Cliff Omoruyi, to go on a 13-0 run over a 4-minute span. All 10 available scholarship players have scored for the Tide as it has doubled up the Bulldogs (and then some) at the under-4 media break.
Alabama 46, UNC Asheville 20 (3:44, 1H)
Turnovers limiting the Tide
11/4/2024, 8:36:42 PMAlabama turned the ball over on three straight possessions, but the miscues only resulted in two points for the visiting Bulldogs. While the Tide hasn’t scored in more than two minutes, it still has a comfortable 13-point lead entering the under-8 media timeout of the first half.
Alabama 33, UNC Asheville 20 (7:45, 1H)
Philon fuels an 8-0 Tide streak
11/4/2024, 8:26:54 PMWhat a sequence for Labaron Philon, who scored, got a steal, scored again and got another steal before drawing a foul and making both his free throws. The true freshman’s multiple effort plays gave the Crimson Tide a 13-point lead heading into the under-12 media timeout.
Alabama 26, UNC Asheville 13 (11:42, 1H)
Alabama opens on a 9-0 run
11/4/2024, 8:13:28 PMJarin Stevenson scored the first points of the 2024-25 season on a layin, and the Tide proceeded to score nine straight points before a Toyaz Solomon triple. Alabama is 4-of-6 from the field, compared to 2-of-9 for UNC Asheville, and has a 6-3 edge on the glass with three blocked shots.
Alabama 9, UNC Asheville 5 (15:54, 1H)
Tide starters for Game 1
11/4/2024, 7:51:01 PMAlabama will start two returners, one transfer and two true freshmen against UNC Asheville.
Mark Sears
Labaron Philon
Derrion Reid
Jarin Stevenson
Cliff Omoruyi
Alabama duo will redshirt
11/4/2024, 7:48:20 PMAlabama head coach Nate Oats announced that senior Houston Mallette and freshman Naas Cunningham will both redshirt this season. Neither player was in uniform during warmups.
“We decided, kind of talking to them and their families, we’re gonna redshirt Houston Mallette and Naas Cunningham,” Oats said. “Houston, more he missed the entire summer with some knee injuries. And for his one year of college basketball he has left, he wants to have the best offseason he can going into it. And Naas, it’s conducive to him putting some weight on. It’s a lot easier to put some weight on when you’re not playing games.”
Who’s in uniform and who’s not
11/4/2024, 7:26:32 PMThree Alabama players were not dressed out when the team came out for pregame warmups. One was expected, as guard Chris Youngblood is dealing with an ankle injury and won’t be available until December. The other two, Houston Mallette and Naas Cunningham, appear to be healthy scratches. Nate Oats did say he would have conservations about redshirts. Could these be the candidates? Alabama head coach Nate Oats will be asked about it after the game.
After missing the Tide’s two preseason exhibitions against Wake Forest and Memphis, Grant Nelson, Latrell Wrightsell and Aiden Sherrell were all in uniform and going through pregame drills. It looks like all three will give it a go tonight after dealing with minor injuries.
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