No. 20 Alabama Basketball Thrashes Liberty, 95-59

The Crimson Tide fixed its shooting woes and continued playing stout defense for its second win of the season.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 20 Alabama (2-0) put up a very impressive performance Friday night, destroying preseason A-Sun champion pick Liberty by a final score of 95-59.

Liberty only trailed by nine at halftime, but Alabama outscored the Flames 55-28 in the second half en route to the blowout victory.

"That was a pretty dominating win," Alabama head coach Nate Oats said. "I was really happy with our guys' effort, particularly on the defensive end of the floor."

Junior guard Mark Sears and freshman phenom wing Brandon Miller paced Alabama in scoring, putting up 22 and 20 points, respectively. 

Sears got whatever he wanted offensively, whether that be driving to the rim for a tough layup or pulling up from outside. Miller shot the ball extremely well, too, making multiple NBA-range threes over the course of the game. 

After shooting an abysmal 3-for-28 from three on Monday against Longwood, the Crimson Tide found its stroke from beyond the arc. Alabama shot 10-for-22 from downtown as a team, including three makes from Sears and four from Miller.

The Crimson Tide once again flexed its muscles on defense, holding a second straight opponent under 60 points. Alabama held Liberty guard Darius McGhee — one of the most prolific scorers in the country last season — to just eight points on 3-for-11 shooting. 

"We put a heavy emphasis on McGhee," Oats said. "Outside of those two three's he got early in the second half I thought our guys did a really good job on him."

Alabama showed off its depth as well, scoring 38 bench points, 16 of which came from freshman guard Rylan Griffen. Griffen now has scored 14 or more points in both games, and looks to be an essential piece for the Crimson Tide in his first season. 

Alabama will play next on Tuesday, making a road trip to Mobile to take on South Alabama. The game will tip at 9 p.m. CT and will air on ESPNU.

This story will be updated with quotes and video from tonight's press conference. 

How it Happened:

(most recent update at the top)

Final stats:

Second Half:

• FINAL: Alabama 95, Liberty 59

• Alabama's walk-ons enter the game with 2:12 remaining while holding a 90-56 lead.

• Alabama holds a commanding 86-53 lead at the under-4 timeout. 

• Alabama is on a 10-0 run in the past two minutes, extending the lead to 82-49.

• Miller has crossed the 20-point mark for the first time in his college career. Alabama leads 75-49 with 6:28 remaining.

• Oats takes a timeout after a quick 5-0 Liberty run. Alabama leads 72-49.

• At the under-8 timeout, Alabama leads 70-44. Liberty will have two free throws after the timeout.

• Two Miller free throws extend the Alabama lead to 66-44. Alabama has shot really well from the free throw line tonight at 21-25.

• Alabama is now on a 7-0 run and leads 60-42 at the under-12 timeout. Griffen now has 10 points for Alabama's third double-figure scorer.

• A crafty move in the lane from Griffen extends the Alabam lead to 55-42.

• At the under-16 timeout Alabama holds a 52-39 lead. Sears is now the leading scorer in the game with 14, followed by Miller's 13.

• Sears answered a Liberty three with one of his own and now has 12 in the game. Alabama leads 47-36.

• Miller opens the half for Alabama once again, this time with two free throws. Alabama leads 42-31. 

Halftime stats:

First Half

• HALFTIME: Alabama leads 40-31.

• Bediako has now picked up his third foul. Alabama leads 37-31.

• A tough layup from Sears puts Alabama ahead by eight, 35-27.

• Alabama leads 33-25 at the under-4 timeout. 

• Liberty hit another three to cut the lead a little bit closer. Alabama leads 31-25.

• Miller nailed his third three of the game on as many attempts to put Alabama up 27-20 at the under-8 timeout. 

• A Liberty three stops Alabama's 11-0 run. Alabama leads 24-17 with just over nine minutes remaining. 

• Alabama is on a 7-0 run in the past minute after a Miller three. Alabama leads 20-14.

• Alabama took a timeout after giving up back-to-back easy buckets inside. Liberty leads 14-13.

• Griffen knocked down his first three of the game to tie the game at 10.

• At the under-16 timeout Liberty leads 8-5.

• After Liberty hit two three-pointers, Burnett scored two at the free throw line. Liberty leads 6-5.

• Miller gets Alabama on the board first with a three. Alabama leads 3-0. 

Pregame

• Alabama is using the same starting five from game one: Mark Sears, Nimari Burnett, Brandon Miller, Noah Clowney and Charles Bediako.

• Officials for the game will be Jason Baker, Will Howard and Gerald Williams.

• Forward Darius Miles is not dressed out and has a boot on his left foot. Miles played Monday against Longwood, but was held out of the charity exhibition on Oct. 29 for an injury on the same foot. 

• As head coach Nate Oats mentioned earlier this week, graduate transfer guard Dom Welch is not dressed out.