TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Jaden Shackelford scored 20 points as No. 14 Alabama beat Oakland 86-59 on Friday night, giving the Crimson Tide its first 4-0 start since the 2017-18 season.
Shackelford added five rebounds, two assists, two blocks and scored his 1,000th career point. Jahvon Quinerly had Alabama with 19 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Quinerly and Shackelford combined for 13 of Alabama’s first 21 points in a run that gave the Crimson Tide an eight-point lead in the first 9 minutes of the game.
Jamal Cain led all scorers with 31 points, making 10 of his 23 shots from the field for the Grizzlies (2-2) and nine of his 11 free throws. He also had 10 rebounds and three steals, but little support from his teammates, as Cain made more than half of Oakland’s 19 field goals.
Alabama put the game away with 11 unanswered points near the midway point of the second half, four of them coming from Darius Miles, who ended with seven. Quinerly added a 3-pointer in the stretch.
Alabama freshmen Charles Bediako (12) and JD Davison (10) joined Quinerly and Shackelford in double-digit points.
MULTIPLE WAYS TO WIN
Alabama beat Oakland despite making just 10 of its 36 3-point attempts (27.8%), relying on a +16 rebounding margin, 17 offensive rebounds and 12 second-chance points. It helped the Crimson Tide keep up its hot start to the season. Alabama needs one more win to match its 5-0 start from the 2017-18 season.
UP NEXT
Alabama: Heads to the ESPN Events Invitational in Orlando, Florida, and plays Iona on Thursday.
Oakland: Travels to the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Florida, and plays Vermont on Monday. ___
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