TUSCALOOSA, Alabama—It’s not a completely unforeseen event for the Alabama men’s basketball team to score 100 points or more in a game. Such was the case again Monday night, when the No. 2 Crimson Tide swept 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 grabbed eight rebounds and was a formidable presence inside, launching multiple dunks to the delight of a Coleman Coliseum crowd that turned out in droves despite a late start Monday night.

“We’re going to try to limit his minutes to a lot less than what he played at Rutgers simply because our pace is a lot faster and he needs 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… there’s nothing more efficient.” than that.”

Omoruyi was perfect from the field and the charity stripe. Despite it being a debut match at a new school for him, he seemed to be in his element and played well from the opening moments of the game, recording his first block in his new uniform at 54 seconds.

“Just being able to go out and play was a lot of fun. I’m happy to be here,” he said.

UNC Asheville head coach Mike Morrell also took notice of Omoruyi.

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

Freshman Labaron Philon, a native of Mobile, Alabama, who joins superstar and Muscle Shoals native Mark Sears as a home-state guard in the Crimson Tide’s backcourt, had an outstanding night in his own debut in Alabama. His 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting were far from all he contributed to the stat sheet, finishing one assist shy of a double-double. He led all players in that category by a substantial margin. No other player on either team had more than two.

“It was a good feeling,” said Philon, who started in his collegiate debut. “(You) start a little nervous in the first game, trying to get everything out, but once the ball goes out, it’s time to play, so I tried to focus and stay mentally, be ready at all times.”

Oats said Philon established himself as a top two-way player over the summer and took that role seriously. “He’s a guy who could easily finish with a triple-double this year at some point if we’re able to 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, inserted into the starting lineup for the opener of what is arguably the most anticipated campaign in program history, nearly joined his teammates in double figures (nine points, six rebounds in 22 minutes). His performance was especially pivotal in light of the fact that two mainstays from last season, Grant Nelson and Latrell Wrightsell, did not start and were on a minutes restriction after not playing in exhibitions. Reid showed a lot of athleticism and played well in his first game at the collegiate level.

Omoruyi wasn’t the only high-profile transfer Alabama added this past offseason. Another was 2024 SEC freshman honoree Aden Holloway. Holloway doesn’t just come from any SEC school. He arrived from Auburn and opted to join the Tigers’ state rival after his freshman season. He was +39 with 11 points and two three-point baskets in three attempts.

“I was very happy with Holloway,” Oats said. “11 points, didn’t turn the ball over… I thought he was pretty good on defense. I thought he took care of the ball, and we know he can shoot it, and he did that really well tonight.”

Rookie forward Aiden Sherrell joined Nelson and Wrightsell among the three names Oats listed Monday as players coming off the bench after exhibition absences. Sherrell still led the team in rebounds with nine, eclipsing Omoruyi’s total by one and the Bulldogs’ leading rebounder, Sage Tolentino, by three.

Depth is a strength of this Alabama team, which hopes to not only compete but win the first national title in program history a year after its first trip to the Final Four. He showed it in the first game of the 2024-25 campaign, but it would not be what it is without the additions made to the team.

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

See also:

Alabama Men’s Basketball 2024-25 Season Preview

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