By outreach@cw.ua.edu (Tyler Waldrep)
Riley Norris hadn’t started a game all season, but coach Avery Johnson decided he would join the starting lineup when unbeaten No. 19 South Carolina came to town.
Norris more than validated that decision as he scored a career-high 27 points and led the team with seven rebounds in Alabama’s 73-50 victory over the Gamecocks.
“You just kind of get in a zone I guess,” Norris said.“It doesn’t matter to me coming off the bench or starting. I give all the credit to my teammates tonight. They found me when I was open.
Johnson said Norris wasn’t exactly celebrating his promotion to the starting lineup when he found out on Monday. Johnson said he thought Norris was worried about how his teammate Justin Coleman would react since it meant he would take Norris’ spot on the bench.
After the game, Coleman had nothing but praise for the guy who took his spot in the starting lineup.
“Riley is a great shooter, he one of the best shooters in the country so every time it ever leaves his hand I always think its going in,” Coleman said. “[His play] tonight wasn’t surprising at all.”
Coleman finished as Alabama’s No. 2 scorer in the game, grabbed five rebounds and recorded a game-high six assists.
This post will be updated.*
Source:: The Crimson White Sports
