Nate Oats highlights two areas that kept Alabama afloat in first half

Alabama entered halftime clinging to a 35-32 lead against Clemson in the Elite Eight, and coach Nate Oats believes it is because of two reasons. Speaking with Allie LaForce of CBS, Oats highlighted the defense as well as the offensive rebounding from the Crimson Tide.

Alabama held the Tigers to just 11.9% from 3-point range across the first 20 minutes and ended on an 11-4 run to take the lead. Additionally, the Crimson Tide also totaled 13 offensive rebounds compared to only five for Clemson.

“Our defense picked up and then our offensive rebounds have really saved us,” Oats explained. “We’re missing way too many at the rim, but our offensive rebounding and our defense has been pretty good.”

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Jarin Stevenson led the Crimson Tide with 10 points off the bench, including a pair of corner 3s. Four of Alabama’s five starters finished the first half with at least four rebounds.

Clemson jumped out to a 6-0 start and led for the majority of the way in the first half. The Tigers expanded their advantage to as many as 13 points before Alabama responded with a 16-2 run to take its first lead of the game.

The offensive rebounds resulted in 10 second chance points for the Crimson Tide in the first half. They’ll aim to continue that trend as they enter the second in search of their first Final Four appearance in history.

This isn’t the first meeting between Alabama and Clemson this season as the Tigers previously won 85-77 in the regular season.

Mark Sears leads Alabama to victory against Clemson

Mark Sears lived out a childhood dream Saturday as his second-half performance helped Alabama punch its first-ever ticket to the Final Four. The Crimson Tide guard seemingly couldn’t miss over the final 20 minutes in an 89-82 victory against Clemson, scoring 18 of his 23 points in the second.

Sears went 6-of-7 from 3-point range in the second half and made seven triples total in the contest, one short of tying his career high. That included a step back from beyond the arc to give Alabama an 82-75 victory with 1:17 remaining that drew applause from Crimson Tide alum Robert Horry.

Speaking postgame with Allie LaForce of CBS, Sears gave a passionate response when asked what the moment meant to him.

“I live for those moments,” he said. “This is what March Madness is about. When you’re a kid, you want to be in these moments. It felt like my dream came true today.”