Grant Nelson scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as No. 4 Alabama triumphed over No. 8 Kentucky, 102-97, in a thrilling encounter between two of the nation’s highest-scoring teams.
Shooting 7 for 13 from the field and an impressive 9 for 10 from the free-throw line, Nelson demonstrated a remarkable turnaround, having totaled just 21 points in his last three games combined.
Mark Sears contributed significantly, netting 16 of his 24 points in the second half for Alabama (15-3, 4-1 SEC), which had a well-rounded offensive display with five players reaching double digits.
On the other side, Kentucky (14-4, 3-2) entered the game on a two-game winning streak after recovering from an 82-69 defeat to Georgia. Otega Oweh led the Wildcats with 21 points, while Lamont Butler added 17 points and eight assists.
Kentucky took a brief 56-52 lead following Brandon Garrison’s dunk with 16:13 remaining, but Alabama quickly countered with a powerful 14-2 run to regain control of the game.
Sears initiated the offensive surge with a jumper and later assisted Aden Holloway, whose 3-pointer extended the lead to 66-58 with 12:33 left on the clock.
Takeaways
For Alabama, the team’s success at the free-throw line was pivotal, converting 29 of 34 attempts, which proved essential in maintaining their lead as the game progressed.
Conversely, Kentucky faced challenges in securing defensive stops during critical moments, which ultimately hindered their ability to mount a comeback.
Key Moment
After Garrison’s dunk leveled the score at 81, Labaron Philon stepped up for Alabama, scoring five consecutive points in a decisive 9-0 run that shifted the momentum back to the Tide.
Key Stat
Alabama’s defensive strategy effectively forced Kentucky, renowned for its three-point shooting prowess, to rely on inside drives for much of the second half. Alabama finished with 13 successful three-pointers out of 34 attempts, while Kentucky managed 11 out of 27.
Up Next
Alabama will host Vanderbilt on Tuesday, while Kentucky will have a week off before facing Vanderbilt next Saturday.
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