Mark Sears scored 16 points and No. 6 Alabama overcame a slow start to defeat Kent State 81-54 in non-conference play in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Sunday afternoon.

Aden Holloway had 13 points and three steals for the Crimson Tide (10-2), which won its fourth straight game. Grant Nelson scored nine points and a season-high 14 rebounds and Clifford Omoruyi collected a season-best 12 rebounds for Alabama.

The Crimson Tide never trailed and led by as many as 32 points.

Kent State’s Cameron Davis scored nine points, reaching the top 1,000 of his career. He has 1,002.

Marquis Barnett and Delrecco Gillespie also scored nine points for the Golden Flashes (8-3). Gillespie grabbed eight rebounds.

Kent State shot just 28.0 percent from the field and was 2 of 27 from 3-point range.

Alabama shot 45.0 percent from the field and was a shaky 9 of 35 from 3-point range. The Crimson Tide had a 60-40 rebounding advantage.

Kent State was down 47-33 nearly five minutes into the second half when the Crimson Tide delivered the knockout blow.

Chris Youngblood sank a 3-pointer and started a 13-2 run. Houston Mallette finished the game with a three-pointer to give Alabama a 60-35 lead with 8:13 to play.

Holloway and Labaron Philon later scored three points in a row to extend the lead to 72-43 with 4:52 left.

Holloway knocked down another three-pointer to make the score 81-49 with 1:06 to play.

Nelson collected 12 rebounds during the first half, in which the Crimson Tide held a 39-24 lead.

Alabama missed its first seven field goal attempts and shot 39.4 percent at halftime and was 2 of 17 from 3-point range. Kent State missed its first seven shots and 19 of 21 before finishing the half shooting 23.1 percent. The Golden Flashes were one of 15 from behind the arc.

The game was tied nearly six minutes into the game when the Crimson Tide scored 16 straight points. Derrion Reid scored six straight goals at one point during the stretch as the Crimson Tide built a big lead.

Sears converted a three-pointer to increase the lead to 30-12 with 5:03 left, 18 minutes being Alabama’s largest lead of the half.

–Field level media