ESPN Men's Basketball

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Trevor Releford drained 22 points and Alabama earned a 59-46 victory over Charleston Southern Friday night in a nonconference showdown.

Releford hit 7 of 15 from the field, including 5 of 8 from beyond the arc for his second straight game with five 3-pointers. He also had six assists.

Trevor Lacey also had six helpers for the Crimson Tide (5-0), while Levi Randolph had 10 points and Carl Engstrom had eight rebounds.

Paul Gombwer and Saah Nimley had 10 points each for the Buccaneers (1-4).

Alabama scored the first nine points of the game but Charleston Southern (1-4) responded by outscoring the Crimson Tide 18-4 to take an 18-13 lead on a 3-point shot by Gombwer at the 8:55 mark.

The Crimson Tide went on another 9-0 run to regain the lead 22-18 on a short jump shot by Devonta Pollard at the 6:52 mark. After Malcolm Bernard made a layup to put the Buccaneers back in front 27-26, Randolph made a 3-pointer, Pollard a free throw and Releford back-to-back 3-point shots to give Alabama a 36-27 lead at the half.

Charleston Southern opened the second half with five straight points to pull to within four, 36-32, but from that point on the Crimson Tide outscored the Buccaneers 23-14 to win going away.

Alabama has started the season 5-0 for the second straight year, the first time the Crimson Tide has won its first five games in back-to-back seasons since 1995-96 and 1996-97.