TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Junior forward JaMychal Green had a game-high 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds Monday night to lead the University of Alabama men”s basketball team defeated Troy 79-60 in front of a crowd 8,939 at the Coleman Coliseum.
The Crimson Tide leads the all-time series against the Trojans 3-0.
“I thought our guys came out with good defensive effort tonight,” Alabama coach Anthony Grant said. “We played in spurts, so we need to get a little more consistent in terms of the energy and effort we give on the defensive end.”
Senior guard Senario Hillman added 16 points, sophomore forward Tony Mitchell had 12 points and a career-high four assists, and freshman guard Trevor Releford continued his impressive start to the season with 13 points and six assists.
“He (Releford) has done a great job as a freshman,” Grant said. “He brings a presence to the court for us with his leadership qualities.”
Green is averaging 15.5 points and seven rebounds, while Mitchell is averaging 12 points and 2.5 blocks.
Alabama (2-0) shot 50 percent (32 of 64) from the field and dominated the paint for the second time this season, holding a 48-24 advantage. Defensively, Alabama tallied 22 points off 14 turnovers.
“The key for us tonight was to stop the three, and they didn”t get many until the few at the end,” Grant said. “We did a really good job of taking away the 3-point line.”
The game was close through the first 7 minutes, 29 seconds when the Crimson Tide used a pair of runs, 14-4 and 13-4, to take a 47-32 lead into halftime
Alabama tried to extend its lead in the second half, but Troy cut the deficit to 13 with 10:12 remaining. The Crimson Tide never let Troy get closer than that for rest of the contest going on a 19-4 run that spanned 7:10 of the second half to cement the win.
Bernard Toombs led Troy with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Alabama held Troy to its lowest point total in the series.
Alabama will play next in the 2010 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam Men”s Basketball Tournament. It will face Seton Hall in its first game of the tournament at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
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