TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Herbert Jones scored 17 of his career-high 21 points in the first half and No. 11 Alabama had a blistering shooting night in a 115-82 rout over Georgia on Saturday.
Freshman Josh Primo scored 19 points, all after the half, for the Crimson Tide (17-5, 12-1 Southeastern Conference), which had five players score in double figures and reached a season high in points. It was the most points Alabama has scored in an SEC game.
Alabama came into the day with a 3-1/2-game lead in the league standings with four now remaining in the regular season. The Tide hit 18 of 30 3-pointers to fuel the easy win, topping its previous high of 105 points against LSU.
The Bulldogs (12-8, 5-8) have dropped the first two of a three-game string of games against the SEC's ranked teams. But freshman K.D. Johnson, at least, had a big week. He scored a career-high 22 points against No. 16 Tennessee and topped that with 24 on Saturday.
Jones was only two points shy of his previous career best by halftime, propelling the Tide to a 51-38 lead. He went into the locker room making 6 of 8 shots and hitting three 3-pointers. Jones came out with a quick drive for a basket for his only second-half attempt.
Jones was limited in practice this week with nagging lower back pain, but it didn't slow him down in the first half.
Jaden Shackelford scored 18 for the Tide, which also got 16 from Jahvon Quinerly and 13 from John Petty Jr.
Sahvir Wheeler scored 16 for the Bulldogs, while Toumani Camara had 12 and Tye Fagan 11.
Georgia did manage a seven-point spurt after falling behind by 18 early in the second half, but the deficit ballooned from there.
BIG PICTURE
Georgia: The Bulldogs were cold from 3-point range, making 2 of 19 attempts. Camara and Wheeler combined for Georgia’s first 14 points, making 6 of 7 shots between them. Teammates missed their first eight shots.
Alabama: It shot 64.3% (36 of 56). The hosts came out on fire from long range, with 10 of the team's first 15 field goals being 3-pointers. Alabama has rebounded strongly from its first SEC loss, at No. 10 Missouri.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Alabama could make a return to the Top 10 with the victory and would appear to have a relatively weak finishing regular-season schedule.
UP NEXT
Georgia has another tough game, hosting No. 10 Missouri on Tuesday night.
Alabama is scheduled to visit Texas A&M on Wednesday night. The Aggies' last three games have been postponed because of COVID-19 issues.
