Alabama Basketball: Tide sets program record drowning Dawgs

Alabama Basketball: Surging Crimson Tide blew out Georgia on 60 percent three-point shooting and the program most ever points in an SEC game.

Alabama Basketball returned to blowout mode Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa. A three-point explosion led to a 115-82 win over the Georgia Bulldogs. The Alabama Crimson Tide was 18-for-30 outside the arc, compared to two made threes for the Bulldogs.

Jahvon Quinerly was a perfect 4-for-4 on threes. Herbert Jones and Josh Primo were each 3-for-4. Jaden Shackelford was 2-for-3. Herbert Jones led the Crimson Tide in scoring with 21 points, followed by Josh Primo with 19, Jaden Shackelford with 18, and Jahvon Quinerly with 16 points.

The Bulldogs kept it close for the game’s first 10 minutes. The Crimson Tide pushed its lead to 11 points at the 4:21 point of the first half. Nate Oats’ team not only never looked back at the trailing Bulldogs, it never took its foot off the gas. In the game’s closing minute, Oats was compelled to apologize to Georgia coach Tom Crean for his team’s late points.

The 115 points is a program record for an SEC game. The only time Alabama Basketball scored more points in any game was Dec. 1971 when the Crimson Tide beat South Florida 123-91.

Nate Oats was quick to push the Crimson Tide farther when he said, after the game,

"It’s a feel-good win, but we definitely have some work to do on the defensive side.Outside of the turnovers on offense, I thought our offense was pretty good."

Winning big is exciting for Alabama basketball fans but there was more reason to celebrate. Herbert Jones looked better, physically than he has in weeks. Speaking about Jones, Oats said,

"It’s good to finally see the ball go in again. Good to see Herb Jones a lot closer to 100%. He makes our offense a lot better.Sitting him doesn’t get him any better. He hasn’t taken a hit the last 3-4 games, but he needed to get some rust knocked off from not practicing."

As always Oats was quick to turn attention to the strengths of the next Crimson Tide opponent. If the Aggies can return from a COVID break after missing two games, Oats does not want his team not prepared for a possible tough, SEC road battle.

"We got some work to do yet. A&M is looming out there Wednesday, they’re a really good defensive team."

The 17-5 Alabama Crimson Tide has five regular-season games remaining. A double-bye in the SEC Tournament is close to being assured.