No. 7 Alabama Triumphs Over Creighton in Close Matchup

Alabama’s Stellar Performance

In an exciting matchup on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the seventh-ranked Crimson Tide asserted their dominance with an impressive 83-75 victory over the Creighton Bluejays. Leading the charge for Alabama was senior guard Mark Sears, who delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 27 points and grabbing six rebounds.

Alabama’s depth was evident as Labaron Philon contributed significantly with 16 points and five rebounds, while Derrion Reid added 12 points, showcasing the team’s balanced scoring attack. Grant Nelson was a force on the boards, pulling down 10 rebounds as the Crimson Tide dominated the rebounding battle with a total of 46 rebounds to Creighton’s 32.

Game Highlights

For the Bluejays, Steven Ashworth led the way with 20 points and nine assists, while Ryan Kalkbrenner added 18 points and seven rebounds. Jackson McAndrew set a personal best by hitting five three-pointers and matching his career-high with 16 points, providing a spark off the bench. Jamiya Neal also contributed with 13 points and eight rebounds.

Key Moments

Following a strong start that saw Alabama build a 27-10 lead with runs of 9-0 and 11-0, the Crimson Tide maintained control throughout the first half, leading 37-31 at halftime. In the second half, Sears executed a pivotal three-point play, extending Alabama’s lead to 49-37.

As the game progressed, Creighton fought back, narrowing the deficit to just six points after a pair of baskets from Kalkbrenner and Ashworth. Although Alabama pushed their lead back to 12 with just over seven minutes left, the Bluejays refused to back down. After McAndrew converted a four-point play, they trimmed the lead to just four with under 30 seconds remaining.

Closing the Game

Ultimately, Sears clinched the victory for Alabama by calmly sinking four consecutive free throws, ensuring a hard-fought win for the Crimson Tide in front of their home crowd.

This victory improves Alabama’s record to 8-2, while Creighton falls to 7-4, ending their three-game winning streak. Both teams showcased their skill and determination, promising exciting basketball action for fans in the upcoming games.