No. 9 Alabama knocks off No. 6 Houston in overtime
No. 9 Alabama picked up a huge win on Tuesday night, knocking off No. 6 Houston 85-80 in overtime in the Players Era Festival.
Alabama stuck with the same starting lineup as last game in this one, going with Mark Sears, Latrell Wrightsell, Labaron Philon, Grant Nelson, and Cliff Omoruyi.
HOW IT HAPPENED
As expected, Houston’s defense was suffocating from the opening tip. Alabama didn’t take care of the basketball well early on, turning it over four times in the first three minutes of the game, while also not being able to find many quality looks offensively.
Houston grinded its way to an 8-0 run about midway through the first half, building its lead all the way to seven points, but Alabama stayed the course. The Tide responded to that run with a comeback that included an 8-0 run of its own to take the lead, with Aden Holloway and Nelson hitting some big shots and making some huge plays.
Both teams went back and forth for the rest of the first half, continuing the physical play. Alabama’s defense stayed at a high level, while Mo Dioubate showed how valuable he is in games against physical teams. The Cougars entered halftime with a 2-point lead.
Alabama started the second half the way it needed to, outscoring Houston 11-6 to take a 3-point lead, it’s largest of the game, at the first media timeout. Holloway scored five quick points to start the half, handling Houston’s physicality well.
The defensive intensity continued to pay off as the second half continued, forcing Houston into difficult look after difficult look. The threes fell at a bit higher rate in the second half, with a make from Wrightsell prompting a Cougar timeout headed into the under-12 as Alabama had built its lead to six, its largest of the game.
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Alabama continued to hold its lead around the 6-to-8 range through the middle portion of the half, as Houston dealt with major foul trouble to some of its biggest pieces. That foul trouble limited the Cougars offensively, and Alabama’s defensive effort held Houston without a field goal for over a five minute stretch as the game drew towards clutch time.
Houston answered though, going on a 10-0 run to take a 3-point lead with 4 minutes to go. During that ran, Alabama was unable to get anything going offensively when it wasn’t able to get to the free throw line, going over five minutes without a field goal of its own.
Once Houston built its lead, Alabama fought back to tie it with 28 seconds left. The Tide got a stop on the final possession, sending the game to overtime.
Alabama opened overtime with a massive Sears 3-ball, and never looked back.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Mark Sears – 24 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Mo Dioubate – 10 pounds, 16 rebounds
Aden Holloway – 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
WHAT’S NEXT
Alabama will take on Rutgers tomorrow night in its second and final game of group play in the Players Era Festival, determining its seed for the final day of play on Saturday. The game will tip off at 9 p.m. CT and air on TBS.
