Sports Editor

TUSCALOOSA – After losing their last two season openers, the Alabama Crimson Tide wasn’t about to lose a third, pounding the Troy State Trojans in Coleman Coliseum, 92-64.

Troy State was playing without Arizona State transfer Derick Davis, who is academically ineligible until Dec. 17, as well as point guard Eddie Morris (fractured thumb), two players TSU head coach Don Maestri has said will be counted on if the Trojans are to be successful this season.

But one wonders if even Davis or Morris would have been able to stop a Crimson Tide team loaded with talent and picked by many to finish second to Arkansas in the Southeastern Conferences Western division.

The Trojans never led in the ball game, but kept it close until midway in the first half.

In the early going the Trojans were hot from the perimeter, but couldn’t hold their own with Alabama’s larger front line. The Tide continuously out-dueled the TSU’s smaller inside players for rebound after rebound.

Forward Lemayn Wilson sunk a jumper with 13:00 left in the first to cut the Tide lead to 15-13, but Alabama was able to answer.

The Trojans had the ball down 17-15 with a chance to take the lead a few minutes later, but a shot from beyond the 3-point arc bounced off the rim. Alabama raced down the court, where freshman sensation Gerald Wallace took the ball on an alley-oop pass and jammed it home, bringing the Tide fans to their feet.

Forward Matt Holman cut the Crimson Tide lead to 21-17 with a jumper and then Alabama took off on an 11-0 run, holding the Trojans scoreless for almost seven minutes and taking a 20 point lead into the locker room at halftime.

Monday night’s game marked the first time Maestri had set foot on the Capstone in 18 years. Maestri was an assistant under former Alabama head coach Wimp Sanderson in 1980-82.

Troy State will have their home-opener this Saturday. The Trojans will play Maine and tipoff at Trojans’ Arena is at 7 p.m.