Newcomers to Alabama basketball perform well in season opener

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.– It’s not an entirely unforeseen development for the Alabama men’s basketball team to score 100 points or more in a game. That was the case again Monday night, as the No. 2 Crimson Tide steamrolled UNC Asheville, 110-54. Seven players finished in double figures. Three were newcomers to the program.

Rutgers transfer Cliff Omoruyi led the new faces in the scoring category with 16 points. The big man also collected eight rebounds and was a formidable presence inside, throwing down multiple dunks to the delight of the Coleman Coliseum crowd that showed up in large numbers despite a late start on Monday night.

“We’re going to try to limit his minutes to a lot less than what he played at Rutgers just because our pace is so much faster and he has to be super explosive in his minutes,” head coach Nate Oats said. “Sixteen (points) and eight (rebounds) in under 19 minutes is pretty efficient basketball. So I don’t know if I’m going to expect 16 and eight in 19 minutes every night… it doesn’t get much more efficient than that.”

Omoruyi was perfect from the floor and the charity stripe. Despite it being his debut match at a new school, he looked in his element and played well from the opening moments of the match, recording his first block in his new uniform after 54 seconds.

“It was really fun to just be able to come out and play. I’m just happy to be here,” he said.

UNC Asheville head coach Mike Morrell also noticed Omoruyi.

“The big kid they got from Rutgers, he just says… he screens, he’s physical, they really screen you even better than I thought on film,” Morrell said.

Freshman Labaron Philon, a native of Mobile, Ala. who joins superstar and Muscle Shoals native Mark Sears as the Crimson Tide’s home State guard in the backcourt, had a big night in his own Alabama debut. His 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting were a far cry from his stat sheet and finished one assist short of a double-double. He led all players in that category by a significant margin. No other player on either team had more than two.

“It was a good feeling,” said Philon, who was making his colelgia debut. “(You) start quite nervous in the first game and try to get everything out, but as soon as the ball tips it’s time to go, so I just tried to hang in there and stay mentally, stay ready at all times. “

Oats said Philon established himself as a premier two-way player this summer and is taking that role seriously. “He’s a guy who could easily get a triple-double this year if we can get him enough minutes,” Oats said. “He’s going to be very good. I think he has a chance to play at the next level.”

Fellow freshman Derrion Reid, named to the starting lineup for the opener of perhaps the most anticipated campaign in program history, just missed joining his teammates in double figures (nine points, six rebounds in 22 minutes). His performance was especially crucial in light of two mainstays from last season, Grant Nelson and Latrell Wrightsell, not starting and receiving a minutes restriction after not playing in the friendlies. Reid showed great athleticism and played well in his first game at the college level.

Omoruyi wasn’t the only high-profile transfer Alabama added last offseason. Another was 2024 SEC All-Freshman honoree Aden Holloway. Holloway didn’t just come from an SEC school. Coming out of Auburn, he opted to join the Tigers’ in-state rival after his freshman season. He was +39 with 11 points and two made three-point baskets in three attempts.

“I was very happy with Holloway,” Oats said. “11 points, no turnovers… I thought he defended pretty well. I thought he took care of the ball, and we know he can shoot, and he shot really well tonight.”

Freshman forward Aiden Sherrell joined Nelson and Wrightsell among the three names Oats listed Monday as players who would come off the bench after being absent in the exhibition. Sherrell still led the team with nine, eclipsing Omoruyi’s total by one and the Bulldogs’ top rebounder, Sage Tolentino, by three.

Depth is a strength for this Alabama team, which hopes to not only compete for, but win, the first national title in program history a year after its first trip to the Final Four. That was on display in the first game of the 2024-2025 season, but it wouldn’t be what it is without the additions to the team.

“We have some versatility,” Oats said. “I think we’ve tried a little bit of everything, and we’ll continue to try different lineups together, different guys, see who plays better with each other. I thought they all played pretty well together tonight.”

No. 2 Alabama Basketball dominates in season opener over UNC Asheville, 110-54