Miller, Pringle lead No. 1 Alabama over Georgia 108-59
AP
Feb 18, 2023
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) Alabama Crimson Tide is a tough team to catch on the rebound. Just ask Vanderbilt, and now Georgia Bulldogs.
Brandon Miller scored 21 points, Nick Pringle had 19 points and 12 rebounds and Mark Sears made five 3-pointers in the first half to lead No. 1 Alabama to a 108-59 romp over Georgia on Saturday.
The Crimson Tide (23-4, 13-1 Southeastern Conference) rebounded from their first SEC loss by racing to a 54-25 halftime lead and making 16 of 34 3s (47.1%) en route to a season scoring high.
''I think our guys respond well after losses,'' Alabama coach Nate Oats said. ''I hope we don't have any more that we have to respond like that.''
It was tied for the third-largest margin in an SEC game for Alabama, though still behind a 57-pointer over Vanderbilt last month. That followed a loss to Oklahoma.
Alabama was coming off a 68-59 loss at No. 10 Tennessee on Wednesday night after rising to No. 1 for only the second time in program history and first in 20 years. Second-ranked Houston hosts Memphis and No. 3 Purdue faces Ohio State on Sunday.
''It was good just to see the ball fall through the net, and the defense was really there in the first half,'' Sears said. ''It gave us a spark.''
The Bulldogs (16-11, 6-8) hit a lower percentage from the free throw line than Alabama did from 3-point range. Georgia was 13 of 30 (43.3%) on foul shots.
Miller played only 21 minutes and Sears 19 for the Tide. Miller made 3 of 5 3s, and Sears hit 5 of 8 after a perfect first half. Pringle had season highs in both points and rebounds.
Rylan Griffen scored 13 and Noah Clowney 12 for Alabama.
Justin Hill, who made the game-winning basket against LSU on Tuesday night, led Georgia with 17 points. Terry Roberts scored 11 and Braelen Bridges 10.
''I think it'd be hard to forget about this one,'' Georgia coach Mike White said. ''I haven't been a part of something like this. I did a very poor job obviously of preparing our guys. We looked rattled from the tip. Alabama's obviously a better basketball team than we are. They are terrific.
''As good of an offensive team as I've seen live or competed against in our league that I can remember.''
Sears and Miller combined for Alabama's first 20 points and the Tide swiftly built a 30-8 lead. Alabama started 5 of 6 from the floor, all 3s against Georgia's zone defense, and Miller also made three free throws after getting fouled on another attempt.
He's only the third Tide player to score 500 points as a freshman and reached the milestone faster than either James Robinson or Collin Sexton.
''It's honestly crazy, especially with the team we have - how skilled we are, how deep we are,'' Pringle said. ''Five hundred points already? I don't think you can have a better freshman year than this.''
BIG PICTURE
Georgia: Fell to 3-9 away from home, where the Bulldogs are 13-2. Hill made both of his 3-point attempts, but the rest of the team was a combined 2 of 11. Was outrebounded 49-26.
Alabama: Won its 11th SEC game by double digits, matching the 1955-56 team for the most in program history. ... Has followed up losses with wins by a combined 128 points. ... Went over 100 points for the fifth time.
ASSISTS
Alabama had assists on 26 of 39 baskets, getting seven from Jaden Bradley and six from Jahvon Quinerly.
UP NEXT
Georgia visits Arkansas on Tuesday night.
Alabama visits South Carolina on Wednesday night.
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1st Half
UGA
Bulldogs
25
ALA
Crimson Tide
54
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
(Crimson Tide gains possession)
19:44
+3
Mark Sears makes three point jump shot (Jaden Bradley assists)
0-3
19:17
+2
Braelen Bridges makes two point hook shot (Justin Hill assists)
2-3
18:46
+3
Brandon Miller makes three point jump shot (Jaden Bradley assists)
2-6
18:28
Kario Oquendo misses two point layup
18:26
Brandon Miller defensive rebound
18:10
+3
Brandon Miller makes three point jump shot (Noah Clowney assists)
2-9
17:58
Charles Bediako blocks Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe's two point layup
17:58
Bulldogs offensive rebound
17:43
+2
Terry Roberts makes two point jump shot
4-9
17:29
Terry Roberts shooting foul (Brandon Miller draws the foul)
17:29
+1
Brandon Miller makes regular free throw 1 of 3
4-10
17:29
+1
Brandon Miller makes regular free throw 2 of 3
4-11
17:29
+1
Brandon Miller makes regular free throw 3 of 3
4-12
17:17
Brandon Miller blocks Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe's two point layup
17:15
Jaden Bradley defensive rebound
17:00
Noah Clowney misses three point jump shot
16:58
Charles Bediako offensive rebound
16:55
+3
Mark Sears makes three point jump shot (Charles Bediako assists)
4-15
16:46
+2
Terry Roberts makes two point jump shot
6-15
16:25
+3
Mark Sears makes three point jump shot (Jaden Bradley assists)
6-18
16:23
Bulldogs 30 second timeout
16:23
TV timeout
16:10
+2
Justin Hill makes two point jump shot
8-18
15:50
+2
Brandon Miller makes two point jump shot
8-20
15:40
Terry Roberts misses two point jump shot
15:38
Charles Bediako defensive rebound
15:32
+2
Noah Clowney makes two point dunk (Mark Sears assists)
8-22
15:03
Brandon Miller blocks Justin Hill's two point jump shot
15:01
Mark Sears defensive rebound
14:56
Brandon Miller misses three point jump shot
14:54
Charles Bediako offensive rebound
14:51
+2
Charles Bediako makes two point layup
8-24
14:24
Frank Anselem turnover (lost ball) (Mark Sears steals)
14:07
Mark Sears misses two point layup
14:05
Crimson Tide offensive rebound
13:55
+2
Brandon Miller makes two point layup
8-26
13:55
Mardrez McBride shooting foul (Brandon Miller draws the foul)
13:55
+1
Brandon Miller makes regular free throw 1 of 1
8-27
13:46
Terry Roberts misses two point jump shot
13:44
Brandon Miller defensive rebound
13:32
+3
Mark Sears makes three point jump shot
8-30
13:17
Mardrez McBride misses two point jump shot
13:16
Braelen Bridges offensive rebound
13:16
Mark Sears shooting foul (Braelen Bridges draws the foul)
13:16
+1
Braelen Bridges makes regular free throw 1 of 2
9-30
13:16
Braelen Bridges misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:16
Nimari Burnett defensive rebound
13:02
Nick Pringle misses two point jump shot
13:00
Braelen Bridges defensive rebound
12:47
Jabri Abdur-Rahim misses two point layup
12:46
Braelen Bridges offensive rebound
12:46
Rylan Griffen shooting foul (Braelen Bridges draws the foul)
12:46
+1
Braelen Bridges makes regular free throw 1 of 2
10-30
12:46
Braelen Bridges misses regular free throw 2 of 2
12:46
Nick Pringle defensive rebound
12:37
+2
Nick Pringle makes two point dunk (Jahvon Quinerly assists)
10-32
12:24
Justin Hill misses two point layup
12:23
Justin Hill offensive rebound
12:23
Nick Pringle shooting foul (Justin Hill draws the foul)
12:23
+1
Justin Hill makes regular free throw 1 of 2
11-32
12:23
+1
Justin Hill makes regular free throw 2 of 2
12-32
12:10
+2
Nick Pringle makes two point dunk (Jahvon Quinerly assists)
12-34
11:48
+2
Braelen Bridges makes two point hook shot
14-34
11:24
+2
Nick Pringle makes two point layup (Jahvon Quinerly assists)
14-36
11:24
Braelen Bridges shooting foul (Nick Pringle draws the foul)
11:24
TV timeout
11:24
Nick Pringle misses regular free throw 1 of 1
11:24
Braelen Bridges defensive rebound
10:56
Braelen Bridges misses two point jump shot
10:54
Nick Pringle defensive rebound
10:45
Nick Pringle misses two point dunk
10:43
Braelen Bridges defensive rebound
10:32
+3
Kario Oquendo makes three point jump shot (Jusaun Holt assists)
17-36
10:18
+3
Dom Welch makes three point jump shot (Jahvon Quinerly assists)
17-39
9:59
Kario Oquendo offensive foul
9:59
Kario Oquendo turnover (offensive foul)
9:44
Charles Bediako turnover (lost ball) (Jusaun Holt steals)