TUSCALOOSA, ALA. — Keon Ellis scored 16 points and James Rojas scored 15 — each off the bench — to help carry Alabama past Florida 86-71 on Tuesday night to sit atop the Southeastern Conference.
The pair tallied 31 of the Crimson Tide’s 36-bench points to help Alabama (8-3, 3-0) pull away in the second half.
Anthony Duruji sandwiched a jumper and 3-pointer around a jumper from Colin Castleton, and Florida (5-2, 2-1) used the 7-0 run to start the second half to tie it at 39.
The Tide countered with a 12-2 run over a little more than four minutes and went on to expand their lead from there.