The 3rd/4th ranked Crimson Tide took care of business on their home floor, defeating Vanderbilt 103-87 on Tuesday night. The 100 point outing was the Tide’s 6th of the year, second in a row, and third in six SEC matchups. Bama is now 16-3 overall and 5-1 in SEC play, while the Commodores fell to 15-4, 3-3 in the league. During the game, Mark Sears became the 82nd NCAA player ever to score 2,500 career points, and he is now the leading active scorer in men’s college basketball.
Coach Nate Oats stayed with the starting lineup of Sears, Labaron Philon, Grant Nelson, Jarin Stevenson, and Clifford Omoruyi. The group got off to a slow start and fell behind 7-2 early. Omoruyi scored on a dunk followed by Sears scoring on an old fashioned three point play. Sears and Stevenson hit back to back threes and the Tide had forged out to a 20-11 lead with 10:45 left.
Omoruyi was elbowed in the ribs and left the game and went to the locker room. Meanwhile Aden Holloway and Mo Dioubate had entered the action and took over. Holloway couldn’t miss from three or in the lane, and Dioubate was doing all his normal dirty work, rebounds, put backs, and defense. At the half, the Tide had taken a 20 point lead at 49-29.
In the first half, the Tide shot a blistering 18-31 for 58% — including 4-11 for 36% from three, made 8-10 free throws, grabbed 23 rebounds, blocked four shots, had two steals, six assists, and seven turnovers. Holloway was a perfect 6-6 from the field, 2-2 from three, and 2-2 from the free throw line for 16 first half points. Sears scored 10 points to reach 2,500 career points, Dioubate scored nine and led the team with six rebounds. Stevenson scored seven and had five rebounds, and Nelson had five rebounds and two points.
The Tide first half defense was on point, holding Vanderbilt to 12-36 for 33% including 1-7 from three point range. The ‘Dores had 17 rebounds, four assists, four steals, two blocks, and four turnovers. Jason Edwards led the scoring with nine points.
Alabama sent the same starters out for the second half. Thirty-two seconds into the frame, Sears picked up his third foul. On the next possession, Sears was fouled in the lane, and a technical foul was added. With four free throws coming, the 88% free throw shooter missed the first three attempts before willing the fourth one through the net. At this point, Vandy’s Tyler Nickel caught fire and nailed three straight long three pointers. The Commodores couldn’t seem to miss over the majority of the half. By the 15:45 mark the lead had been cut to 10 at 55-45.
The Tide responded with a triple from Holloway and pair from long range for Chris Youngblood. Another Holloway three pointer with 7:20 left pushed the lead out to 79-62. Every time Bama would seemingly have the game put on ice the Commodores would respond with another three point barrage. Sears was fouled several times down the stretch and regained his sharp shooter eye at the charity stripe. A Dioubate basket broke the 100 point barrier for the sixth time this season, and a Nelson dunk finished off the scoring in the 103-87 win.
Bama shot well again in the second half at 18-33 for 55%, 4-11 for 36% from three, but they regressed to 15-24 at the free throw line. Overall, the Tide was 36-64 for 56%, 8-22 for 36% from three, and a disappointing 23-34 for 68% on free throw shooting. Alabama had 44 rebounds, six steals, nine blocks, 13 assists, and 11 turnovers.
Dioubate, the hard hat award winner again, led the way with a double-double on a career high 22 points and 10 rebounds. Holloway had an efficient 22 points on 8-11 shooting with 4-6 from three, added four rebounds, and even had a block. Sears knocked in 21 points for his 62nd career game of at least 20 points and added seven assists. Stevenson had one of his better games with 10 points and seven rebounds. Nelson was 5-6 from the field and scored 10 points and garnered eight rebounds. Aiden Sherrell played 13 minutes had had five rebounds, two assists, and a couple of blocks, and played a nice defensive game.
Dioubate had a plus/minus of +26, Holloway carded a +21, Youngblood was +17, and Sherrell was +12. The whole starting five was +4 combined. The bench truly did work in this game, scoring 52 points.
Vanderbilt shot 19-44 for 43% in the half with 10-19 for 53% from three. The Doers made 8-10 at the free throw line. Overall, the visitors shot 31-80 for 39%., 11-26 for 42% from three, and 14-18 at the free throw line. VU had 39 rebounds, 17 of the offensively, five steals, three blocks, 14 assists, and 10 turnovers. Edwards led with 21 point and Nickel tossed in 19 as five total Commodores scored in double figures.
After the game Oats was of course not pleased by the second half defense, saying he was “disgusted” by it. The former HS math teacher gave the team an A- in the first half and a fat F in the second for their defensive play. Oats that he was “really happy for Mo, really for all four guys off the bench” and said that they have started putting in plays for Diobuate that they call “the off-road package.” The 6th year coach, when speaking on the team’s next game with LSU, said “another team we know we are better than, so I have to convince these guys that they still can be beat.” “We knew we were better than Vanderbilt, but we still have to play 40 minutes.”
This one was a nice win when the team really didn’t play great. The smaller Commodores dominated the offensive rebounds by a margin of 17 to nine. Much like the Ole Miss game, a team which the Tide should win that battle, they lost this one. The first half defense did not carry over to the second half. A few too many turnovers were committed, but it seems like somewhere around 10-11 is the team’s limit. You can’t say enough about Dioubate and all the dirty work he does. Mo was awarded a couple of and one continuation baskets that the NBA would be proud of. Stevenson has been playing much better as of late and it finally showed more in the stat book tonight. Holloway is a walking bucket anytime he is on the court. Somehow, someway, Sears is going to get his 20 points each game.
Next up is another home game, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CT when the LSU Tigers come to town. The game will be on the SEC Network. Lets keep it rolling!
Roll Tide