BAMA

VANDY

Sears scores 21, Griffen adds 16, and Alabama edges Vanderbilt 78-75

AP
Jan 06, 2024

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Mark Sears scored 21 points, Rylan Griffen added 16 points, and Alabama Crimson Tide held on in the final minute to defeat Vanderbilt Commodores 78-75 on Saturday in the SEC opener for both teams.

Alabama led 72-67 with 1:18 remaining, then ‘Bama’s Grant Nelson and Vandy's Tyrin Lawrence exchanged layups and Sears added two free throws for a seven-point Alabama lead. Vandy’s Jordan Williams nailed a 3-pointer to get the Commodores within 76-72 with 18 seconds left.

With Alabama leading 77-74 with eight seconds remaining, Griffen, an 82% free-throw shooter, missed the front end of the one-and-one. To take advantage of what was still a three-point lead, Griffen fouled Lawrence, who made his first free throw and missed the second. The foul-me, foul-you sequence continued over the final few seconds and Vanderbilt was unable to get closer than two points.

Latrell Wrightsell Jr. added 11 points for the Crimson Tide (9-5). Alabama shot 49% but the pace of the game kept the Crimson Tide well below their nation-leading average of 92.8 points per game.

Vanderbilt (5-9) was led by Lawrence and Jason Rivera-Torres with 20 points each. Ezra Manjon added 16 points.

Alabama attempted only eight two-point shots in the first half and made six of them. The Crimson Tide had a 15-3 advantage in fast-break points and led 40-36 at the break.

Alabama has a home game against South Carolina on Tuesday. Vanderbilt plays at LSU on Tuesday.

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1st Half
ALA
Crimson Tide
40
VANDY
Commodores
36

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Crimson Tide gains possession)
19:39	+2	Rylan Griffen makes two point layup	2-0
19:21		Ezra Manjon misses two point layup
19:19		Ven-Allen Lubin offensive rebound
19:17	+2	Ven-Allen Lubin makes two point layup	2-2
19:06		Ven-Allen Lubin shooting foul (Mark Sears draws the foul)
19:06	+1	Mark Sears makes regular free throw 1 of 2	3-2
19:06	+1	Mark Sears makes regular free throw 2 of 2	4-2
18:39	+2	Ezra Manjon makes two point turnaround jump shot	4-4
18:39		Mark Sears shooting foul (Ezra Manjon draws the foul)
18:36	+1	Ezra Manjon makes regular free throw 1 of 1	4-5
18:12		Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot
18:10		Mohamed Wague offensive rebound
18:02	+3	Mark Sears makes three point jump shot (Aaron Estrada assists)	7-5
17:35	+3	Tyrin Lawrence makes three point jump shot	7-8
17:22	+2	Grant Nelson makes two point dunk (Mohamed Wague assists)	9-8
17:00		Ezra Manjon misses two point jump shot
16:58		Aaron Estrada defensive rebound
16:52		Aaron Estrada turnover (lost ball) (Ezra Manjon steals)
16:29		Tyrin Lawrence misses two point jump shot
16:27		Aaron Estrada defensive rebound
16:22	+2	Rylan Griffen makes two point layup (Aaron Estrada assists)	11-8
15:53		Mohamed Wague personal foul (Ven-Allen Lubin draws the foul)
15:53		TV timeout
15:34	+3	Jason Rivera-Torres makes three point jump shot	11-11
15:26		Rylan Griffen turnover (bad pass) (Jason Rivera-Torres steals)
15:22		Jason Rivera-Torres misses two point layup
15:20		Crimson Tide defensive rebound
15:02	+3	Rylan Griffen makes three point jump shot (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. assists)	14-11
14:41		Tyrin Lawrence misses two point jump shot
14:39		Carter Lang offensive rebound
14:34	+2	Tyrin Lawrence makes two point layup	14-13
14:25	+2	Jarin Stevenson makes two point jump shot	16-13
14:07		Tasos Kamateros misses three point jump shot
14:05		Grant Nelson defensive rebound
14:01	+3	Latrell Wrightsell Jr. makes three point jump shot (Rylan Griffen assists)	19-13
13:35		Grant Nelson shooting foul (Ezra Manjon draws the foul)
13:35	+1	Ezra Manjon makes regular free throw 1 of 2	19-14
13:35	+1	Ezra Manjon makes regular free throw 2 of 2	19-15
13:15		Carter Lang shooting foul (Mouhamed Dioubate draws the foul)
13:15		Mouhamed Dioubate misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:15	+1	Mouhamed Dioubate makes regular free throw 2 of 2	20-15
12:57		Jason Rivera-Torres misses two point jump shot
12:55		Aaron Estrada defensive rebound
12:50	+3	Sam Walters makes three point jump shot (Aaron Estrada assists)	23-15
12:25		Evan Taylor misses three point jump shot
12:23		Aaron Estrada defensive rebound
12:15		Sam Walters misses three point jump shot
12:13		Carter Lang defensive rebound
12:06		Paul Lewis misses two point jump shot
12:04		Mouhamed Dioubate defensive rebound
11:54		TV timeout
11:45		Paul Lewis shooting foul (Mark Sears draws the foul)
11:45	+1	Mark Sears makes regular free throw 1 of 2	24-15
11:45	+1	Mark Sears makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-15
11:26		Evan Taylor misses three point jump shot
11:24		Aaron Estrada defensive rebound
11:14	+3	Sam Walters makes three point jump shot (Mark Sears assists)	28-15
11:00		Tyrin Lawrence misses three point jump shot
10:58		Sam Walters defensive rebound
10:50	+3	Latrell Wrightsell Jr. makes three point jump shot	31-15
10:49		Commodores 30 second timeout
10:30		Grant Nelson blocks Ezra Manjon's two point jump shot
10:28		Latrell Wrightsell Jr. defensive rebound
10:17		Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot
10:15		Grant Nelson offensive rebound
10:09	+2	Rylan Griffen makes two point jump shot	33-15
9:43	+3	Jordan Williams makes three point jump shot (Ven-Allen Lubin assists)	33-18
9:32		Ven-Allen Lubin blocks Mark Sears's two point layup
9:30		Tasos Kamateros defensive rebound
9:14	+2	Ezra Manjon makes two point layup (Ven-Allen Lubin assists)	33-20
9:14		Latrell Wrightsell Jr. shooting foul (Ezra Manjon draws the foul)
9:14	+1	Ezra Manjon makes regular free throw 1 of 1	33-21
8:54		Tasos Kamateros personal foul (Mark Sears draws the foul)
8:38		Rylan Griffen turnover (bad pass)
8:13	+2	Ezra Manjon makes two point reverse layup	33-23
7:54		Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot
7:52		Nick Pringle offensive rebound
7:43		Grant Nelson turnover (lost ball) (Jordan Williams steals)
7:38		Sam Walters shooting foul (Malik Presley draws the foul)
7:38		TV timeout
7:38	+1	Malik Presley makes regular free throw 1 of 2	33-24
7:38		Malik Presley misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:38		Crimson Tide defensive rebound
7:23		Nick Pringle misses two point layup
7:21		Ezra Manjon defensive rebound
6:59		Jordan Williams misses three point jump shot
6:57		Sam Walters defensive rebound
6:41	+3	Latrell Wrightsell Jr. makes three point jump shot (Aaron Estrada assists)	36-24
6:15	+3	Tasos Kamateros makes three point jump shot (Jordan Williams assists)	36-27
5:53		Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot
5:51		Ven-Allen Lubin defensive rebound
5:39		Ezra Manjon misses three point jump shot
5:37		Jarin Stevenson defensive rebound
5:30		Jordan Williams shooting foul (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. draws the foul)
5:30	+1	Latrell Wrightsell Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	37-27
5:30	+1	Latrell Wrightsell Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	38-27
5:15		Tasos Kamateros misses three point jump shot
5:13		Rylan Griffen defensive rebound
5:04		Malik Presley personal foul (Jarin Stevenson draws the foul)
5:04		Malik Presley personal foul (Jarin Stevenson draws the foul)
5:04		Jarin Stevenson misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:04		Tyrin Lawrence defensive rebound
4:51		Ezra Manjon turnover (bad pass) (Mark Sears steals)
4:43	+2	Rylan Griffen makes two point jump shot (Mark Sears assists)	40-27
4:12		Tyrin Lawrence misses two point layup
4:10		Tasos Kamateros offensive rebound
4:07	+3	Tasos Kamateros makes three point jump shot	40-30
3:56		Latrell Wrightsell Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Tasos Kamateros steals)
3:46		Tyrin Lawrence misses three point jump shot
3:44		Mark Sears defensive rebound
3:38		Mark Sears turnover (lost ball)
3:38		TV timeout
3:20	+2	Evan Taylor makes two point turnaround jump shot	40-32
3:00		Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot
2:58		Evan Taylor defensive rebound
2:48		Evan Taylor misses two point jump shot
2:46		Grant Nelson defensive rebound
2:34		Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot
2:32		Jason Rivera-Torres defensive rebound
2:32		Mouhamed Dioubate personal foul (Jason Rivera-Torres draws the foul)
2:05	+2	Ezra Manjon makes two point turnaround jump shot	40-34
1:57		Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot
1:55		Commodores defensive rebound
1:36		Jason Rivera-Torres misses three point jump shot
1:34		Grant Nelson defensive rebound
1:26		Rylan Griffen turnover (traveling)
0:58		Grant Nelson blocks Evan Taylor's two point jump shot
0:56		Evan Taylor offensive rebound
0:56		Commodores turnover (shot clock violation)
0:46		Mark Sears turnover (lost ball) (Evan Taylor steals)
0:43		Aaron Estrada personal foul (Tyrin Lawrence draws the foul)
0:43	+1	Tyrin Lawrence makes regular free throw 1 of 2	40-35
0:43	+1	Tyrin Lawrence makes regular free throw 2 of 2	40-36
0:25		Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot
0:23		Commodores defensive rebound
0:01		Ezra Manjon misses three point jump shot
0:00		Commodores offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
ALA
Crimson Tide
38
VANDY
Commodores
39

Time		Play	Score
19:48		Ven-Allen Lubin offensive foul (Rylan Griffen draws the foul)
19:48		Ven-Allen Lubin turnover (offensive foul)
19:37	+2	Rylan Griffen makes two point jump shot	42-36
19:18		Tyrin Lawrence misses two point jump shot
19:16		Ven-Allen Lubin offensive rebound
19:14		Grant Nelson shooting foul (Ven-Allen Lubin draws the foul)
19:14	+1	Ven-Allen Lubin makes regular free throw 1 of 2	42-37
19:14	+1	Ven-Allen Lubin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	42-38
19:07		Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot
19:05		Ven-Allen Lubin defensive rebound
18:43		Ezra Manjon misses two point jump shot
18:41		Tyrin Lawrence offensive rebound
18:30		Tyrin Lawrence misses two point layup
18:28		Grant Nelson defensive rebound
18:21		Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot
18:19		Rylan Griffen offensive rebound
18:08		Mark Sears misses three point jump shot
18:06		Mohamed Wague offensive rebound
18:00		Grant Nelson turnover (bad pass)
17:48		Tasos Kamateros misses three point jump shot
17:46		Crimson Tide defensive rebound
17:39	+2	Aaron Estrada makes two point layup	44-38
17:09		Jordan Williams misses three point jump shot
17:07		Tasos Kamateros offensive rebound
17:05		Tasos Kamateros turnover (bad pass) (Mark Sears steals)
17:03		Mohamed Wague turnover (traveling)
16:37		Ven-Allen Lubin misses two point jump shot
16:35		Aaron Estrada defensive rebound
16:22	+3	Aaron Estrada makes three point jump shot (Mark Sears assists)	47-38
15:54		Grant Nelson blocks Tyrin Lawrence's two point layup
15:52		Aaron Estrada defensive rebound
15:46		Mark Sears turnover (lost ball)
15:25	+2	Tyrin Lawrence makes two point layup	47-40
15:25		Grant Nelson shooting foul (Tyrin Lawrence draws the foul)
15:25		TV timeout
15:25	+1	Tyrin Lawrence makes regular free throw 1 of 1	47-41
15:17		Aaron Estrada misses two point jump shot
15:15		Nick Pringle offensive rebound
15:14	+2	Nick Pringle makes two point putback layup	49-41
14:49		Evan Taylor misses two point jump shot
14:47		Nick Pringle defensive rebound
14:30	+2	Rylan Griffen makes two point layup	51-41
14:00	+2	Ezra Manjon makes two point jump shot	51-43
13:45		Sam Walters misses three point jump shot
13:43		Carter Lang defensive rebound
13:38		Carter Lang turnover (bad pass)
13:16		Mark Sears turnover (lost ball) (Ezra Manjon steals)
13:09		Tyrin Lawrence turnover (lost ball) (Nick Pringle steals)
12:43	+3	Mark Sears makes three point stepback jump shot	54-43
12:12		Tyrin Lawrence misses two point floating jump shot
12:10		Mark Sears defensive rebound
12:06		Evan Taylor shooting foul (Sam Walters draws the foul)
12:06	+1	Sam Walters makes regular free throw 1 of 2	55-43
12:06	+1	Sam Walters makes regular free throw 2 of 2	56-43
11:54	+2	Tyrin Lawrence makes two point jump shot	56-45
11:45		Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot
11:43		Jason Rivera-Torres defensive rebound
11:34	+2	Jason Rivera-Torres makes two point jump shot	56-47
11:21		Jason Rivera-Torres personal foul (Grant Nelson draws the foul)
11:21		TV timeout
11:21		Grant Nelson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:21	+1	Grant Nelson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	57-47
10:55	+2	Jason Rivera-Torres makes two point layup	57-49
10:30		Mark Sears misses two point layup
10:28		Tyrin Lawrence defensive rebound
10:09		Tyrin Lawrence misses three point stepback jump shot
10:07		Mark Sears defensive rebound
9:58	+3	Grant Nelson makes three point jump shot (Aaron Estrada assists)	60-49
9:37		Sam Walters personal foul (Tyrin Lawrence draws the foul)
9:36	+2	Jason Rivera-Torres makes two point jump shot (Tyrin Lawrence assists)	60-51
9:25		Aaron Estrada turnover (lost ball) (Tyrin Lawrence steals)
9:14		Jason Rivera-Torres misses three point jump shot
9:12		Crimson Tide defensive rebound
8:59		Aaron Estrada turnover (lost ball) (Jason Rivera-Torres steals)
8:55	+2	Jason Rivera-Torres makes two point layup	60-53
8:38	+3	Jarin Stevenson makes three point jump shot (Grant Nelson assists)	63-53
8:20		Jason Rivera-Torres misses three point jump shot
8:18		Jarin Stevenson defensive rebound
8:08		Mark Sears misses three point jump shot
8:06		Evan Taylor defensive rebound
7:49		Sam Walters shooting foul (Ezra Manjon draws the foul)
7:49		TV timeout
7:49	+1	Ezra Manjon makes regular free throw 1 of 2	63-54
7:49	+1	Ezra Manjon makes regular free throw 2 of 2	63-55
7:41		Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot
7:39		Jarin Stevenson offensive rebound
7:17		Rylan Griffen misses two point jump shot
7:15		Tasos Kamateros defensive rebound
7:13		Tasos Kamateros turnover (lost ball) (Mark Sears steals)
7:04	+2	Mark Sears makes two point layup	65-55
6:37		Rylan Griffen shooting foul (Jason Rivera-Torres draws the foul)
6:37	+1	Jason Rivera-Torres makes regular free throw 1 of 3	65-56
6:37	+1	Jason Rivera-Torres makes regular free throw 2 of 3	65-57
6:37	+1	Jason Rivera-Torres makes regular free throw 3 of 3	65-58
6:27		Mark Sears turnover (bad pass) (Tyrin Lawrence steals)
6:18		Evan Taylor misses three point jump shot
6:16		Jarin Stevenson defensive rebound
6:09		Jarin Stevenson misses three point jump shot
6:07		Tyrin Lawrence defensive rebound
5:48		Tyrin Lawrence turnover (bad pass)
5:42	+2	Mark Sears makes two point driving layup	67-58
5:25		Nick Pringle blocks Tasos Kamateros's three point jump shot
5:23		Mark Sears defensive rebound
5:13		Crimson Tide 30 second timeout
5:13		TV timeout
5:09		Mark Sears turnover (lost ball) (Tyrin Lawrence steals)
4:48	+3	Tyrin Lawrence makes three point jump shot (Jordan Williams assists)	67-61
4:33		Mark Sears misses two point jump shot
4:31		Crimson Tide offensive rebound
4:30		Evan Taylor personal foul
4:27		Jordan Williams personal foul
4:21	+3	Mark Sears makes three point jump shot	70-61
3:50		Jordan Williams misses two point layup
3:48		Jason Rivera-Torres offensive rebound
3:38		Tasos Kamateros misses three point jump shot
3:36		Nick Pringle defensive rebound
3:29	+2	Mark Sears makes two point layup	72-61
3:21		Commodores 30 second timeout
3:21		TV timeout
3:20		Jason Rivera-Torres turnover (bad pass) (Rylan Griffen steals)
3:14		Jason Rivera-Torres blocks Mark Sears's two point layup
3:12		Jason Rivera-Torres defensive rebound
2:56	+2	Tyrin Lawrence makes two point layup	72-63
2:56		Nick Pringle shooting foul (Tyrin Lawrence draws the foul)
2:56		Tyrin Lawrence misses regular free throw 1 of 1
2:56		Rylan Griffen defensive rebound
2:33		Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot
2:31		Evan Taylor defensive rebound
2:10	+2	Jason Rivera-Torres makes two point jump shot	72-65
1:49		Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses two point layup
1:47		Evan Taylor defensive rebound
1:27		Aaron Estrada blocks Tyrin Lawrence's two point layup
1:25		Commodores offensive rebound
1:20	+2	Jason Rivera-Torres makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot	72-67
1:04	+2	Grant Nelson makes two point alley-oop layup (Aaron Estrada assists)	74-67
1:04		Evan Taylor shooting foul (Grant Nelson draws the foul)
1:04		Grant Nelson misses regular free throw 1 of 1
1:04		Tasos Kamateros defensive rebound
0:56	+2	Tyrin Lawrence makes two point layup	74-69
0:38		Jordan Williams blocks Mark Sears's two point layup
0:36		Crimson Tide offensive rebound
0:34		Jason Rivera-Torres personal foul (Mark Sears draws the foul)
0:34	+1	Mark Sears makes regular free throw 1 of 2	75-69
0:34	+1	Mark Sears makes regular free throw 2 of 2	76-69
0:30		Commodores 30 second timeout
0:25		Tyrin Lawrence misses three point jump shot
0:23		Jason Rivera-Torres offensive rebound
0:19	+3	Jordan Williams makes three point jump shot (Jason Rivera-Torres assists)	76-72
0:18		Commodores 30 second timeout
0:18		Evan Taylor personal foul (Grant Nelson draws the foul)
0:18	+1	Grant Nelson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	77-72
0:18		Grant Nelson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:18		Evan Taylor defensive rebound
0:11	+2	Jason Rivera-Torres makes two point jump shot	77-74
0:09		Jason Rivera-Torres personal foul (Rylan Griffen draws the foul)
0:09		Rylan Griffen misses regular free throw 1 of 1
0:09		Tyrin Lawrence defensive rebound
0:04		Rylan Griffen personal foul (Tyrin Lawrence draws the foul)
0:04	+1	Tyrin Lawrence makes regular free throw 1 of 2	77-75
0:04		Tyrin Lawrence misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:04		Rylan Griffen defensive rebound
0:01		Jordan Williams personal foul (Rylan Griffen draws the foul)
0:01	+1	Rylan Griffen makes regular free throw 1 of 2	78-75
0:01		Rylan Griffen misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:01		Jason Rivera-Torres defensive rebound
0:01		Rylan Griffen personal foul (Jason Rivera-Torres draws the foul)
0:01		Crimson Tide 30 second timeout
0:01		Jason Rivera-Torres misses regular free throw 1 of 1
0:01		Mohamed Wague defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Mohamed Wague defensive rebound