Alabama
6-1,0-0SEC
Rutgers
5-2,0-0Big Ten
No. 9/9 Alabama Advances to Players Era Festival Championship After 95-90 Win over Rutgers
11/28/2024 1:02:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Crimson Tide were led by Mark Sears’ 24 points
LAS VEGAS – The No. 9/9 Alabama men's basketball team advanced to the Players Era Festival Championship game, following its 95-90 win over Rutgers, Wednesday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Crimson Tide improved to 6-1 on the season and will face Oregon in Saturday's championship contest.
Alabama had five players score double-figures led by Mark Sears' 24 points to go along with five assists, two rebounds and two steals. The Tide reached the 90-point mark for the third time this season as UA shot 51 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range.
The Scarlet Knights were led by Ace Bailey (22 points) and Dylan Harper (37 points) combining for 59 of Rutgers' 90 points.
Head Coach Nate Oats Postgame Comments
"Give them (Rutgers) a lot of credit, they came out ready to play; I am not so sure we did. Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey are both super talented. Derrion Reid and Grant Nelson were our two best defenders for Ace (Bailey) for sure. We got into some foul trouble, Jarin had two (fouls) early and Derrion got into foul trouble. We didn't very good answers for them and we had no answer at all for Dylan Harper. We'll get our defense figured out."
Team Stats
- Alabama had five players score double figures, as the Tide shot 51 percent from the field
- Mark Sears recorded his second straight 20-point game leading Alabama with 24 points
- Mouhamed Dioubate grabbed five offensive rebounds, the most by an Alabama player this season
- The Tide recorded 16 assists off 30 makes from the field
- Alabama outrebounded Rutgers 43-31
- The Crimson Tide's bench outscored the Scarlet Knight's bench 38-6
First Half
- Eight different players scored for Alabama led by Grant Nelson and Mark Sears with eight points apiece
- Sears led all players with five assists in the first half
- The Tide shot 56 percent (17-30) including 24 points inside the paint
- Ace Bailey (12 points) and Dylan Harper (13 points) combined to score 25 of Rutgers' 41 points in the first half
- The Crimson Tide committed 11 turnovers which led to nine points for Rutgers
- Eight of Rutgers' first 10 points were inside the paint
- After Rutgers started the game 5-6 from the field, Alabama's defense tightened up holding Rutgers scoreless for nearly five minutes as the Tide went on a 9-0 run to take a 20-14 lead
- The Scarlet Knights responded with a 9-2 run from 9:23-7:51 to take a 23-22 lead
- With nine lead changes and tied six times, both teams went into the break tied at 41-41
Second Half
- Sears got hot early in the 2nd half, scoring 11 of Alabama's first 20 points
- Alabama did not allow Rutgers to convert a three-pointer until the 3:08-mark in the second half
- The Tide led 73-67 at the 9:48-mark but Sears committed his fourth personal foul and over the next two and a half minutes Rutgers outscored Alabama 11-7 to come within two points (80-78) of Alabama's lead
- After Rutgers cut the lead to two points (80-78), Alabama responded by going on a 7-0 run holding Rutgers scoreless for nearly two minutes
- Alabama's defense was exceptional to close out the game, as Rutgers ended the game converting three of their final 13 field goal attempts
Up Next
- Alabama will play its final game in the Players Era Festival against Oregon on Saturday, Nov. 30
- Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. CT and can be seen on TNT
