Alabama men's basketball narrowly defeated LSU 80-73 in a hard-fought SEC matchup. Despite struggles in the first half and the absence of key player Mark Sears for the second half, the Crimson Tide prevailed thanks to a strong rebounding effort and clutch performances from other players.
Alabama men's basketball team secured a hard-fought victory against LSU on Saturday, winning 80-73 at Coleman Coliseum. The win propelled the Crimson Tide to a 17-3 record for the season and a 6-1 mark in SEC play. The game began with a tight contest, with neither team able to establish a clear advantage in the first half.
Despite Alabama being favored, Coach Nate Oats emphasized the importance of avoiding complacency against LSU, reminding his team of a previous instance where they overlooked an opponent. The first half saw struggles for Alabama, including allowing 13 points off turnovers and facing a significant 13-5 disadvantage in offensive rebounds. The teams entered halftime tied at 40, far from the performance the Tide had hoped for. Alabama point guard Mark Sears had a challenging first half, shooting 0-for-5 from the field and recording a -1 plus-minus in his 17 minutes on the court. With just three seconds remaining in the half, Coach Oats substituted Sears out, leaving him sidelined for the entire second half. This marked another instance this season where Sears was absent for an extended period, with Oats previously citing a different lineup performing better against Illinois. Despite his absence, Sears remained engaged on the bench, offering support to his teammates throughout the second half.The second half witnessed a shift in momentum for Alabama. While still outrebounded for the game, the Tide gained the upper hand in the second half's rebounding battle. Although their shooting accuracy remained below par, hitting only 40% of their second-half field goals, Alabama managed to pull away in the final minutes. The victory showcased the Crimson Tide's resilience and ability to overcome adversity, proving that nothing comes easy in the competitive SEC during the 2024-25 season. The performance also highlighted the emergence of players stepping up in the absence of key starters like Sears.
ALABAMA BASKETBALL LSU BASKETBALL SEC BASKETBALL NATE OATS MARK SEARS
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