Sears uses strong second half to score 23 points as No. 24 Alabama rallies past Georgia 85-76
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) Mark Sears said the key to No. 24 Alabama's second-half recovery on offense was strong play on defense.
Sears scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 4:09 remaining, and the Crimson Tide recovered from a slow start to beat Georgia 85-76 on Wednesday night.
Alabama (15-6, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) overcame poor shooting on 3-pointers and free throws to retain its hold on first place in the SEC. The Crimson Tide outscored the Bulldogs 58-35 in the second half after trailing 41-27 at halftime.
“We had to get stops,” Sears said. “When we were able to get stops we got easy transition baskets.”
Georgia (14-7, 4-4) led by 16 points in the first half but couldn’t stop the Crimson Tide’s second-half comeback led by Sears, Rylan Griffen and Grant Nelson.
Griffen’s 3-pointer produced the game’s first tie at 64-all. Sears’ 3 gave Alabama the lead for good at 69-66. Sears made two free throws to extend the lead to five points.
“It’s a big win,” said Alabama coach Nate Oats. “If you’re going to try to win the conference you’ve got to win games like this on the road.”
Nelson, who scored 20 points, sank two 3-pointers in the final 2 minutes to help the Crimson Tide protect the lead.
RJ Melendez and Noah Thomasson each scored 15 points for the Bulldogs, who were held without a 3-pointer in the second half after making seven in the first half.
Georgia suffered its second home loss of the month to a top-five team after losing a double-digit lead. The Bulldogs led No. 5 Tennessee by 11 points before losing 85-79 on Jan. 13.
Georgia had some players slowed by a virus this week while point guard Justin Hill was returning from a sprained ankle suffered in overtime of a 102-98 loss at Florida on Saturday. Hill scored five points in 22 minutes.
“We've just got to get healthy,” said Georgia coach Mike White, who said he would approach Thursday's practice “with more of a mental approach.”
Alabama, which leads the SEC with its average of 89.7 points per game, started slow and was held to 27 first-half points.
Sears, tied for second in the league with his average of 20 points per game, was held to four points in the first half while missing four of six shots from the field.
While Alabama missed eight of its first nine shots from the field, Georgia used a 13-0 run to lead 17-2. Melendez and Blue Cain made back-to-back 3-pointers to cap the run. Georgia's big lead was 16 points at 37-21.
The Crimson Tide recovered its shooting touch, making four straight shots from the field in one stretch, but still trailed 41-27 at halftime.
PRINGLE SUSPENDED
Oats said senior forward Nick Pringle, who was not with the team, is suspended.
“He’s got to decide if he wants to be part of the program,” Oats said of Pringle, adding “nothing bad off the court” led to the suspension. Pringle averages 5.2 points and 4.1 rebounds and started the first eight games as one of three returning players from last season.
BIG PICTURE
Alabama: The Crimson Tide struggled to overcome its poor 3-point shooting. Alabama made only 2 of 11 long-range shots in the first half and 8 of 23 for the game. Strong second-half shooting by Sears, Nelson and Griffen helped the Crimson Tide return to their high-scoring norm. Griffen scored 12 points.
Georgia: The Bulldogs could not enough to overcome a season-high 19 turnovers, including 11 in the first half. The Bulldogs' previous high was 18 turnovers in their 68-66 home win over Louisiana State on Jan. 24.
UP NEXT
Alabama: Hosts Mississippi State on Saturday.
Georgia: After playing the SEC's first-place team, second-place South Carolina visits Athens on Saturday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Grant Nelson vs. Russel Tchewa (Bulldogs gains possession) | |||
19:45 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. personal foul | |||
19:27 | Silas Demary Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
19:25 | RJ Melendez offensive rebound | |||
19:23 | Rylan Griffen shooting foul (Jabri Abdur-Rahim draws the foul) | |||
19:23 | +1 | Jabri Abdur-Rahim makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 0-1 | |
19:23 | +1 | Jabri Abdur-Rahim makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 0-2 | |
19:00 | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | |||
18:58 | Russel Tchewa defensive rebound | |||
18:43 | Silas Demary Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Mark Sears steals) | |||
18:37 | Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot | |||
18:35 | Jabri Abdur-Rahim defensive rebound | |||
18:28 | +2 | Noah Thomasson makes two point jump shot | 0-4 | |
18:03 | Jabri Abdur-Rahim personal foul (Mark Sears draws the foul) | |||
17:52 | +2 | Mark Sears makes two point layup | 2-4 | |
17:23 | RJ Melendez turnover (lost ball) (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. steals) | |||
17:17 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
17:15 | RJ Melendez defensive rebound | |||
16:51 | +3 | Jabri Abdur-Rahim makes three point jump shot (Silas Demary Jr. assists) | 2-7 | |
16:42 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
16:40 | RJ Melendez defensive rebound | |||
16:31 | +2 | Russel Tchewa makes two point layup (Noah Thomasson assists) | 2-9 | |
16:22 | Mark Sears misses two point jump shot | |||
16:20 | Russel Tchewa defensive rebound | |||
15:59 | Grant Nelson blocks Silas Demary Jr.'s two point jump shot | |||
15:57 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
15:57 | TV timeout | |||
15:50 | Jabri Abdur-Rahim misses three point jump shot | |||
15:48 | Crimson Tide defensive rebound | |||
15:35 | Mark Sears turnover (bad pass) (Noah Thomasson steals) | |||
15:29 | Jabri Abdur-Rahim misses three point jump shot | |||
15:27 | Mark Sears defensive rebound | |||
15:18 | Aaron Estrada offensive foul (Noah Thomasson draws the foul) | |||
15:18 | Aaron Estrada turnover (offensive foul) | |||
14:59 | Jump ball. Russel Tchewa vs. Mohamed Wague (Crimson Tide gains possession) | |||
14:59 | Russel Tchewa turnover (lost ball) (Mohamed Wague steals) | |||
14:38 | Aaron Estrada misses two point jump shot | |||
14:36 | Justin Hill defensive rebound | |||
14:26 | Justin Hill turnover (lost ball) (Mark Sears steals) | |||
14:24 | Justin Hill personal foul (Mark Sears draws the foul) | |||
14:15 | Mark Sears turnover (bad pass) (Blue Cain steals) | |||
14:12 | Aaron Estrada blocks Blue Cain's two point layup | |||
14:12 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
14:10 | Blue Cain misses three point jump shot | |||
14:08 | Russel Tchewa offensive rebound | |||
14:07 | Mohamed Wague personal foul (Russel Tchewa draws the foul) | |||
14:02 | Mohamed Wague blocks Jabri Abdur-Rahim's two point layup | |||
14:00 | Jarin Stevenson defensive rebound | |||
13:50 | Aaron Estrada misses two point layup | |||
13:48 | Justin Hill defensive rebound | |||
13:36 | Russel Tchewa misses two point hook shot | |||
13:34 | Jabri Abdur-Rahim personal foul | |||
13:24 | Jarin Stevenson turnover (lost ball) (RJ Melendez steals) | |||
13:20 | RJ Melendez misses two point layup | |||
13:18 | RJ Melendez offensive rebound | |||
13:18 | Mohamed Wague shooting foul (RJ Melendez draws the foul) | |||
13:18 | +1 | RJ Melendez makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 2-10 | |
13:18 | +1 | RJ Melendez makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-11 | |
12:57 | Sam Walters misses three point jump shot | |||
12:55 | Jalen DeLoach defensive rebound | |||
12:30 | Justin Hill misses three point jump shot | |||
12:28 | Justin Hill offensive rebound | |||
12:25 | +3 | RJ Melendez makes three point jump shot (Justin Hill assists) | 2-14 | |
12:05 | Sam Walters turnover (bad pass) (RJ Melendez steals) | |||
11:59 | +3 | Blue Cain makes three point jump shot (RJ Melendez assists) | 2-17 | |
11:57 | Crimson Tide 30 second timeout | |||
11:57 | TV timeout | |||
11:35 | +2 | Mouhamed Dioubate makes two point layup (Mark Sears assists) | 4-17 | |
11:18 | Jalen DeLoach misses two point jump shot | |||
11:16 | Blue Cain offensive rebound | |||
11:12 | Grant Nelson blocks Silas Demary Jr.'s two point layup | |||
11:11 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
11:02 | Blue Cain turnover (lost ball) | |||
10:48 | Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot | |||
10:46 | Silas Demary Jr. defensive rebound | |||
10:46 | Mouhamed Dioubate personal foul (Silas Demary Jr. draws the foul) | |||
10:31 | Dylan James turnover (bad pass) (Grant Nelson steals) | |||
10:25 | Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot | |||
10:23 | Rylan Griffen offensive rebound | |||
10:17 | +2 | Mark Sears makes two point layup | 6-17 | |
10:04 | +2 | Silas Demary Jr. makes two point layup | 6-19 | |
9:56 | +2 | Mouhamed Dioubate makes two point layup | 8-19 | |
9:38 | Dylan James turnover (lost ball) | |||
9:20 | +2 | Grant Nelson makes two point jump shot | 10-19 | |
9:02 | +3 | Noah Thomasson makes three point jump shot | 10-22 | |
8:43 | +2 | Grant Nelson makes two point jump shot | 12-22 | |
8:23 | Noah Thomasson misses two point jump shot | |||
8:21 | Russel Tchewa offensive rebound | |||
8:16 | +3 | Blue Cain makes three point jump shot (Justin Hill assists) | 12-25 | |
8:02 | Mark Sears misses three point jump shot | |||
8:00 | Blue Cain defensive rebound | |||
7:51 | Noah Thomasson misses three point jump shot | |||
7:45 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
7:45 | TV timeout | |||
7:27 | Russel Tchewa misses two point layup | |||
7:25 | Jarin Stevenson defensive rebound | |||
7:14 | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | |||
7:12 | Justin Hill defensive rebound | |||
6:49 | +3 | Noah Thomasson makes three point jump shot (Blue Cain assists) | 12-28 | |
6:34 | +2 | Grant Nelson makes two point layup | 14-28 | |
6:21 | RJ Melendez turnover (bad pass) (Aaron Estrada steals) | |||
6:16 | +2 | Rylan Griffen makes two point alley-oop dunk (Aaron Estrada assists) | 16-28 | |
5:54 | +2 | Russel Tchewa makes two point layup | 16-30 | |
5:43 | RJ Melendez personal foul (Jarin Stevenson draws the foul) | |||
5:40 | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point jump shot (Mohamed Wague assists) | 18-30 | |
5:24 | Jabri Abdur-Rahim turnover (lost ball) | |||
5:03 | Silas Demary Jr. shooting foul (Mohamed Wague draws the foul) | |||
5:03 | Mohamed Wague misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
5:03 | Mohamed Wague misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
5:03 | RJ Melendez defensive rebound | |||
4:37 | Noah Thomasson turnover (lost ball) (Mark Sears steals) | |||
4:25 | +3 | Aaron Estrada makes three point jump shot (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. assists) | 21-30 | |
3:59 | +3 | Noah Thomasson makes three point jump shot (Silas Demary Jr. assists) | 21-33 | |
3:32 | Noah Thomasson blocks Mark Sears's two point layup | |||
3:30 | RJ Melendez defensive rebound | |||
3:27 | Silas Demary Jr. misses two point layup | |||
3:26 | RJ Melendez offensive rebound | |||
3:26 | +2 | RJ Melendez makes two point dunk | 21-35 | |
3:26 | TV timeout | |||
3:12 | Jalen DeLoach personal foul (Grant Nelson draws the foul) | |||
3:01 | Grant Nelson turnover (lost ball) (Blue Cain steals) | |||
2:52 | Justin Hill misses three point jump shot | |||
2:50 | Grant Nelson defensive rebound | |||
2:38 | Aaron Estrada misses two point layup | |||
2:36 | Bulldogs defensive rebound | |||
2:36 | Grant Nelson personal foul (Jalen DeLoach draws the foul) | |||
2:36 | +1 | Jalen DeLoach makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-36 | |
2:36 | +1 | Jalen DeLoach makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-37 | |
2:23 | +3 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. makes three point jump shot (Aaron Estrada assists) | 24-37 | |
1:58 | +2 | RJ Melendez makes two point dunk (Justin Hill assists) | 24-39 | |
1:46 | RJ Melendez shooting foul (Mouhamed Dioubate draws the foul) | |||
1:46 | +1 | Mouhamed Dioubate makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-39 | |
1:46 | Mouhamed Dioubate misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
1:46 | Silas Demary Jr. defensive rebound | |||
1:24 | Silas Demary Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. steals) | |||
1:24 | Russel Tchewa blocks Mark Sears's two point layup | |||
1:22 | Noah Thomasson defensive rebound | |||
1:02 | Mouhamed Dioubate blocks Russel Tchewa's two point layup | |||
1:00 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. defensive rebound | |||
0:53 | +2 | Jarin Stevenson makes two point layup (Mark Sears assists) | 27-39 | |
0:40 | +2 | Noah Thomasson makes two point jump shot | 27-41 | |
0:03 | Aaron Estrada misses two point jump shot | |||
0:01 | Russel Tchewa defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |