Nate Oats’ Alabama Crimson Tide improved their record to 2-0 on the season, the first time in his three year tenure that Bama has won their first two games, by defeating South Dakota State 104-88 on Friday night. The Tide started slowly and shot poorly in the first half, but cranked things up in the second half to put away the pesky, veteran Jackrabbits.
Oats used the same starting lineup from opening night: Jahvon Quinerly, Jaden Shackelford, Keon Ellis, Noah Gurley, and Charles Bediako. South Dakota State returned nine players that averaged 10 or more points a game last year and is favored to win the Summit League this year.