MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- No. 18 Alabama came out running, putting up 3-pointers and scoring quickly, as usual.
Then, the Crimson Tide (7-1) started feeling the effects of a triple-overtime game and an unproductive bench in Tuesday night's 72-54 victory over Alabama State.
"We got out there and ran early," Alabama coach Mark Gottfried said. "We got open baskets in our transition game. I really felt like we ran out of gas. We didn't have that burst of energy at any point in the second half where we were ready to get out and run."
The Tide did have Kennedy Winston and Chuck Davis to keep the game in control. Winston scored 21 points and had seven rebounds and five assists, making 4-of-6 3-pointers. Davis had 18 points and nine rebounds but Alabama's bench didn't score a point in limited minutes.
The Hornets (1-4) held the nation's top scoring team to a season-low in points but still trailed by double digits for the final 33 minutes.
"We planned to come in and just jump on them early but they responded well," Winston said.
Reserve George Savage had 14 points, making 4-of-7 3-pointers, to lead the Hornets. Alabama State managed to slow the tempo enough to hold the Tide 20 points under its season average, but shot only 33 percent from the floor.
Jermaine Smith and Alexander Oliver had 10 points apiece for Alabama State, while leading scorer Kevin Spicer was just 2-of-14 for four points.
For Alabama, Earnest Shelton had 14 -- 12 in the first half -- and Ronald Steele had 11 points and six assists. Jermareo Davidson added eight points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots.
The Tide had survived a 102-101, three-overtime marathon at Charlotte on Saturday but mostly coasted through its first visit to Alabama State. Gottfried said his team seemed "a little heavy-legged" during the game. It didn't help that the starters played all but 27 minutes.
This was the closest of the teams' five meetings, with Alabama winning the previous four by at least 24 points in Tuscaloosa.
"It's kind of a funny feeling," Gottfried said. "We got an 18-point road win and you kind of feel like it wasn't enough. I don't think we want to fall into that. You've got to give Alabama State credit.
"We didn't play our best basketball but you've got to give them credit."
Winston and Shelton combined for 23 points and seven assists in the first half as the Tide built a 41-22 halftime lead. Davis then opened the second half with a basket and free throw for Alabama's biggest lead.
The Hornets started a 12-4 run with Jermaine Smith's 3-pointer, making it 46-34.
"When they made that run, we called our timeout," Winston said. "Coach got on us real good and we had to come out and respond."
He responded with a steal, an assist and a 3-pointer and Davis converted another three-point play to push it back to 54-34.
After the Hornets pulled back to within 13 midway through the half, Winston hit a 3-pointer and drove for another basket to end any threat.
