Alabama sets program record vs. LSU with sixth 100-point game

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – For the sixth time this year, the Alabama men’s basketball team scored 100 or more points in a game, as the Crimson Tide dominated LSU, 109-88, Saturday night.

The six 100-point performances this season are a new program record.

But head coach Nate Oats believes Alabama should have reached that mark in December.

“We should have eight,” Oats said. “Shoot, I put the walk-ons in with 99 against Oregon and 98 against Mercer. We can score the ball at a high clip. Obviously, we play fast, efficient and fast. That adds up to 100-point games.”

Still, the fifth-year coach was proud of the offensive output and what it says about his team.

“It says we’ve got really talented players that are unselfish and move the ball,” Oats said. “If you look at our assists, we had 23 assists. (Aaron) Estrada was pushing a triple-double again with 18, seven and six. (Mark) Sears had five assists.

“You put together really talented players, put them in a system that accentuates their strengths, play fast, efficient, you end up with 100-point games. It’d be nice if we had two more, but hopefully, it’s not our last one this year.” 

Alabama games with 100 or more points

Nov. 6 – Morehead State – 105-73
Nov. 10 – Indiana State – 102-80
Nov. 14 – South Alabama – 102-46
Dec. 23 – Eastern Kentucky – 111-67
Dec. 30 – Liberty – 101-56
Jan. 27 – LSU – 109-88

LSU scored first on Saturday night, but Alabama held a lead for almost 34 minutes. That lead ballooned to as many as 23 points as the Tide shot 56 percent (35-of-63) from the field and 41 percent (14-of-34) from three. Five different Alabama players scored at least 12 points with Sears leading the group with 21 points despite finishing 0-for-5 from 3-point range.

Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (19 points) and Estrada (18) were next up for the Tide and combined to go 7-of-16 from beyond the arc and 12-of-25 from the field to lead UA to its 14th victory.

“I think it’s dangerous,” Estrada said. “It’s hard to guard us, especially when everybody is hitting. We put up 100 points. I don’t think many teams are going to beat us when we’re putting up 100 points.”

Alabama has scored more points than any team in program history through 20 games. The Tide has the nation’s top offense in terms of efficiency, according to KenPom, at 125.3 points per 100 possessions. While the offense was clicking, Oats wasn’t happy with the defense.

“We’re not locked into what the game plan is enough,” Oats said. “We had way too much help off shooters where we didn’t need help. We’ve got a really talented offensive group, and we’re not going to be able to win a championship if guys don’t start focusing and it’s not important to them. And some of them are main guys that they’ve got to really start to focus on what it takes to win at a high level.

“LSU is good. We gave them 11 threes. A good defensive team is not giving up – they had 28 attempts. We don’t even want them to get that many off. So it was way too much help off the wrong spots from the wrong guys. Not enough effort to get back out there. Too many blow-bys off the dribble. We’ve got to get our defense shored up. I’m going to keep preaching it and harping on it.”

Alabama will return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 31, when it travels to Georgia. The last time the Crimson Tide faced the Bulldogs, back on Feb. 18, 2023, it scored 108 points in a win.

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