TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 5/6 Alabama men’s basketball team picked up its first win after Christmas with a 105-82 win over the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, Sunday afternoon inside Coleman Coliseum.
The Crimson Tide (11-2) had its most successful outing from beyond the arc this season, burying a season-high 19 three-pointers, led by Aden Holloway with eight of his own, marking a new career-high.
Nate Oats’ squad had three others in double figures, including Labaron Philon (21), Mark Sears (20) and Grant Nelson (17).
South Dakota State was led by Oscar Cluff’s 21 points off 9-for-17 shooting from the field, along with 15 rebounds.
Head Coach Nate Oats Postgame Comments
“That wraps up the non-conference, I thought it was a good one for us to get some confidence with some shooters. Our defensive intensity, I thought was pretty good for most of the first 20 minutes. I did not like the start of the second half. Matter of fact, the second half period, we gave up 49 points. This is a good offensive team, I thought defensively we were locked in and we built the big lead at the half, we were up over 20. We just didn’t play as hard as we needed to, to start that second half. So, little disappointed with our focus being locked in on the defensive end to start the second half.
All in all, we made 19 threes, would be nice if Grant (Nelson) had a couple or Aden on the one with his foot on the line. I like the aggressiveness that Sears and Holloway were taking them. Mo Dioubate, you know what you’re going to get out of him. Seven offensive boards in seventeen and a half minutes. So, we need some other guys to bring the effort that he brings. I thought particularly there in the second half, we needed some energy and effort and he gave it to us. Grant had a really good start, almost a double-double again and then we had 3 guys with over 20 points. I thought the ball moved from backcourt between Sears, Labaron and Holloway. Those guys were really scoring it. And we did a great job with the turnovers, season low in turnovers. I’ve been stressing that and I think our guys did a good job with that.”
Team Stats
- Alabama led the matchup for 38:55, dominating the offensive end of the floor and holding its biggest lead of 29 (105-76) with 1:54 remaining in the second half
- The Crimson Tide hit a new season-high for three-pointers made in a game with 19
- Aden Holloway ended his afternoon with multiple career-highs, including points (26), field goals made (9) and three-pointers made (8)
- Mark Sears reached the 20-point mark for the seventh time this season, along with hitting a season-high eight three-pointers
- Alabama’s bench tallied 43 points, its second highest total of the season so far
- The victory marked the Crimson Tide’s third 100-point game of the season and the 24th under head coach Nate Oats
- Alabama’s defense forced 14 turnovers from the Jackrabbits, while only giving up six
- The defensive effort resulted in the Crimson Tide’s most points off turnovers this season with 24
First Half
- Grant Nelson got everything started for Alabama as he scored the first eight points by himself, featuring a pair of three-pointers to take an early 8-0 lead
- South Dakota State was able to claw its way back and make it a two-point game after a 14-8 run (16-14)
- Following the first media timeout, the Crimson Tide surged offensively, going on a 14-0 run to take a 20-point lead with just under eight minutes remaining in the half (37-17)
- Alabama’s early three-point barrage resulted in 21 of its first 40 points coming from beyond the arc
- The Crimson Tide lead only continued to grow after two more three-pointers by Mark Sears concluded the first half with Alabama on top (57-33)
- Nate Oats’ squad tied its season-high for three-pointers made in a game with 12 in the first half
- Aden Holloway led the team at the break with 14 points off his four threes
- Labaron Philon, Mark Sears, and Grant Nelson had 12 points each in the first half, shooting a combined 14-for-22 from the field
- As a team, Alabama shot 22-for-42 (52 percent) from the field, 12-for-29 (41 percent) from deep and sank its one and only try from the free throw line
Second Half
- South Dakota State opened the second half on an 11-4 run, scoring six of those points in the paint
- Both squads traded baskets throughout the latter part of the half, but the Crimson Tide kept its lead at the second media timeout (68-52)
- After the break, Nate Oats’ squad went on a 9-0 run to extend the lead back to a 20-point margin once again (79-56)
- The Crimson Tide bench came alive in the second half as well, with Holloway, Youngblood, Dioubate and Sherrell totaling 16 of Alabama’s first 27 points of the period
- Continuing the offensive onslaught, Holloway pushed Alabama past the century mark with his seventh three-pointer of the afternoon
- Nate Oats’ squad shot 37-for-78 (47 percent) from the field, 19-for-55 (35 percent) from three, and sank 12-of-16 from the charity stripe in the half
Up Next
- Alabama opens its Southeastern Conference slate on Saturday, Jan. 4 against Oklahoma
- The contest between the Crimson Tide and the Sooners tips off at 5 p.m. and will air on the SEC Network
