Mark Sears and hot-shooting No. 15 Alabama beat Texas A&M 100-75
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) Mark Sears had 23 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals and hot-shooting No. 15 Alabama beat Texas A&M 100-75 on Saturday.
Rylan Griffen scored 17, Latrell Wrightsell Jr. had 16 and Aaron Estrada and Sam Walters added 11 each for Alabama (18-7, 9-2 SEC). Walters led the Crimson Tide with eight rebounds.
“That’s a big win; we’ve got teams right on our tail in the SEC race,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said. “It was a well-needed win at this point in the year.”
Sears made four of his seven 3-point shots and eight of his 14 shots from the floor, leading an Alabama offense that was overwhelming. The Crimson Tide finished the game shooting 52% from the field (37 of 71) and 44% from 3-point range (18 of 41) and scored 22 fast-break points to Texas A&M’s four.
Tyrece Radford led Texas A&M (15-10, 6-6 SEC) with 22 points and four rebounds, but he accounted for five of the Aggies' 15 turnovers. Solomon Washington had 14 points and eight rebounds while Henry Coleman III contributed 12 and Wade Taylor IV had 10.
Alabama led by six points with six minutes left in the first half, then quickly expanded that lead to 15 points in the next two minutes. Only once after that did Texas A&M narrow the deficit to single digits, a window of opportunity that lasted only until the next score.
BIG PICTURE
Sears continues to play at a level worthy of consideration for SEC Player of the Year honors. Sears and Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht entered Saturday nearly identical in points per game, with Sears averaging 20.5 and Knecht at 20.4. Knecht has outpaced Sears against conference competition, with Knecht entering Saturday averaging 26 points per game while Sears stood at 21.82.
Sears adds to his case, however, by ranking top 10 in the SEC in both assists and steals in all games, and top five in the SEC in assists against conference competition.
Sears and Knecht meet again when Alabama plays Tennessee on March 2; Tennessee won the first matchup on Jan. 20 at home, 91-71.
WRIGHTSELL’S GREEN LIGHT
Wrightsell scored all of his points in the second half and made four of the six 3-point shots he took, answering consistent pleas from Oats to shoot more.
“Just trusting my shot, staying consistent and my teammates believing in me, finding me in open spots,” Wrightsell said. “I got yelled at by coach, y’all probably know Coach has been yelling at me for not taking the shot.”
Wrightsell is shooting 45.2% from deep for the season.
“Any time he’s open he should shoot the ball. He’s one of the best shooters I’ve ever coached; why he would ever pass up an open shot is beyond me,” Oats said. “I wish my college coach told me to shoot every time I was open."
AGGIE ANOMALY
Texas A&M collected 26 offensive rebounds - more than Alabama’s 23 defensive rebounds, and ultimately leading to 21 second-chance points - yet still lost by 25 points.
“We have to be really good on the offensive glass,” Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams said. “I think the thing that hurt us today, they offensive rebounded the ball really well."
UP NEXT
Alabama: Hosts Florida on Wednesday.
Texas A&M: Returns home to host Arkansas on Tuesday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Solomon Washington vs. Grant Nelson (Tyrece Radford gains possession) | |||
19:44 | Grant Nelson blocks Andersson Garcia's two point jump shot | |||
19:42 | Aggies offensive rebound | |||
19:35 | +3 | Wade Taylor IV makes three point jump shot (Andersson Garcia assists) | 3-0 | |
19:21 | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | |||
19:19 | Jace Carter defensive rebound | |||
19:17 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. personal foul | |||
19:03 | Wade Taylor IV turnover (lost ball) (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. steals) | |||
18:36 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
18:34 | Andersson Garcia defensive rebound | |||
18:21 | Jace Carter turnover (lost ball) (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. steals) | |||
18:13 | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point layup | 3-2 | |
17:50 | Wade Taylor IV turnover (out of bounds) | |||
17:42 | Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot | |||
17:40 | Jace Carter defensive rebound | |||
17:32 | +2 | Jace Carter makes two point layup | 5-2 | |
17:17 | +3 | Grant Nelson makes three point jump shot (Aaron Estrada assists) | 5-5 | |
17:00 | Wade Taylor IV misses two point jump shot | |||
16:59 | Andersson Garcia offensive rebound | |||
16:59 | Aaron Estrada shooting foul (Andersson Garcia draws the foul) | |||
16:59 | +1 | Andersson Garcia makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 6-5 | |
16:59 | Andersson Garcia misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
16:59 | Crimson Tide defensive rebound | |||
16:35 | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point hook shot | 6-7 | |
16:09 | Jace Carter turnover (bad pass) (Aaron Estrada steals) | |||
15:54 | +2 | Rylan Griffen makes two point layup | 6-9 | |
15:54 | TV timeout | |||
15:40 | Wade Taylor IV misses two point jump shot | |||
15:38 | Aggies offensive rebound | |||
15:33 | Wade Taylor IV misses two point layup | |||
15:31 | Andersson Garcia offensive rebound | |||
15:21 | +2 | Tyrece Radford makes two point jump shot | 8-9 | |
15:03 | Sam Walters misses three point jump shot | |||
15:01 | Jace Carter defensive rebound | |||
14:53 | Jace Carter misses three point jump shot | |||
14:51 | Solomon Washington offensive rebound | |||
14:47 | Nick Pringle personal foul | |||
14:33 | Wade Taylor IV misses two point jump shot | |||
14:31 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. defensive rebound | |||
14:30 | Andersson Garcia personal foul | |||
14:16 | +2 | Sam Walters makes two point layup | 8-11 | |
14:16 | Andersson Garcia shooting foul | |||
14:16 | +1 | Sam Walters makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 8-12 | |
14:06 | Nick Pringle blocks Tyrece Radford's two point layup | |||
14:04 | Jarin Stevenson defensive rebound | |||
13:59 | +3 | Mark Sears makes three point jump shot (Aaron Estrada assists) | 8-15 | |
13:39 | Tyrece Radford turnover (bad pass) (Aaron Estrada steals) | |||
13:35 | Aaron Estrada misses two point layup | |||
13:34 | Sam Walters offensive rebound | |||
13:34 | Wade Taylor IV personal foul | |||
13:29 | +3 | Jarin Stevenson makes three point jump shot (Sam Walters assists) | 8-18 | |
13:12 | Aggies 30 second timeout | |||
13:04 | +2 | Henry Coleman III makes two point jump shot | 10-18 | |
12:52 | Manny Obaseki shooting foul | |||
12:46 | Jarin Stevenson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
12:46 | Jarin Stevenson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
12:46 | Aggies defensive rebound | |||
12:46 | +3 | Sam Walters makes three point jump shot (Mark Sears assists) | 10-21 | |
12:30 | Henry Coleman III misses two point layup | |||
12:28 | Nick Pringle defensive rebound | |||
12:24 | Mark Sears misses three point jump shot | |||
12:22 | Henry Coleman III defensive rebound | |||
12:13 | +2 | Solomon Washington makes two point dunk (Wade Taylor IV assists) | 12-21 | |
11:55 | Henry Coleman III blocks Mark Sears's two point layup | |||
11:53 | Aggies defensive rebound | |||
11:53 | TV timeout | |||
11:45 | +3 | Rylan Griffen makes three point jump shot (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. assists) | 12-24 | |
11:26 | Henry Coleman III misses two point jump shot | |||
11:24 | Solomon Washington offensive rebound | |||
11:23 | +2 | Solomon Washington makes two point layup | 14-24 | |
11:23 | Mouhamed Dioubate shooting foul | |||
11:23 | Solomon Washington misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
10:45 | +2 | Solomon Washington makes two point layup | 16-24 | |
10:30 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
10:28 | Mouhamed Dioubate offensive rebound | |||
10:22 | Grant Nelson misses two point layup | |||
10:21 | Manny Obaseki defensive rebound | |||
10:20 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. personal foul | |||
10:14 | Henry Coleman III misses two point jump shot | |||
10:12 | Grant Nelson defensive rebound | |||
10:04 | +3 | Rylan Griffen makes three point jump shot (Mark Sears assists) | 16-27 | |
9:46 | Manny Obaseki offensive foul | |||
9:46 | Manny Obaseki turnover (offensive foul) | |||
9:40 | Mark Sears turnover (bad pass) | |||
9:27 | Wade Taylor IV misses two point jump shot | |||
9:25 | Tyrece Radford offensive rebound | |||
9:19 | +2 | Tyrece Radford makes two point layup | 18-27 | |
9:11 | Tyrece Radford blocks Davin Cosby Jr.'s three point jump shot | |||
9:09 | Mouhamed Dioubate offensive rebound | |||
9:09 | Jarin Stevenson misses two point jump shot | |||
9:07 | Aggies defensive rebound | |||
9:04 | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | |||
9:02 | Andersson Garcia defensive rebound | |||
8:56 | Aaron Estrada misses two point layup | |||
8:55 | Aaron Estrada offensive rebound | |||
8:51 | +2 | Tyrece Radford makes two point layup | 20-27 | |
8:29 | Jarin Stevenson shooting foul | |||
8:29 | +1 | Tyrece Radford makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-27 | |
8:29 | Tyrece Radford misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
8:29 | Crimson Tide defensive rebound | |||
8:17 | Solomon Washington personal foul | |||
8:11 | Mouhamed Dioubate turnover (lost ball) | |||
8:05 | Henry Coleman III shooting foul | |||
8:05 | +1 | Mark Sears makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-28 | |
8:05 | +1 | Mark Sears makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-29 | |
7:59 | +2 | Tyrece Radford makes two point layup | 23-29 | |
7:30 | +2 | Mark Sears makes two point layup | 23-31 | |
7:30 | Hayden Hefner shooting foul | |||
7:30 | TV timeout | |||
7:30 | +1 | Mark Sears makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 23-32 | |
7:07 | +2 | Tyrece Radford makes two point jump shot | 25-32 | |
6:32 | Nick Pringle turnover (lost ball) (Jace Carter steals) | |||
6:14 | Henry Coleman III misses two point layup | |||
6:12 | Henry Coleman III offensive rebound | |||
6:11 | +2 | Henry Coleman III makes two point layup | 27-32 | |
6:11 | Nick Pringle shooting foul | |||
6:11 | +1 | Henry Coleman III makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 28-32 | |
6:11 | +2 | Grant Nelson makes two point layup | 28-34 | |
5:41 | Solomon Washington misses three point jump shot | |||
5:39 | Henry Coleman III offensive rebound | |||
5:36 | Henry Coleman III misses three point jump shot | |||
5:34 | Sam Walters defensive rebound | |||
5:07 | +2 | Sam Walters makes two point layup (Nick Pringle assists) | 28-36 | |
4:58 | Grant Nelson blocks Wade Taylor IV's two point jump shot | |||
4:56 | Aggies offensive rebound | |||
4:42 | Tyrece Radford misses two point layup | |||
4:40 | Tyrece Radford offensive rebound | |||
4:35 | Tyrece Radford turnover (lost ball) (Mark Sears steals) | |||
4:32 | +2 | Mark Sears makes two point layup | 28-38 | |
4:23 | Solomon Washington misses two point jump shot | |||
4:21 | Grant Nelson defensive rebound | |||
4:11 | +2 | Grant Nelson makes two point dunk (Mark Sears assists) | 28-40 | |
3:52 | Solomon Washington misses three point jump shot | |||
3:50 | Mark Sears defensive rebound | |||
3:36 | +3 | Mark Sears makes three point jump shot | 28-43 | |
3:36 | Aggies 30 second timeout | |||
3:36 | TV timeout | |||
3:21 | Jace Carter misses three point jump shot | |||
3:19 | Tyrece Radford offensive rebound | |||
3:01 | Tyrece Radford misses two point jump shot | |||
2:59 | Andersson Garcia offensive rebound | |||
2:51 | Jace Carter misses three point jump shot | |||
2:49 | Mark Sears defensive rebound | |||
2:42 | Mark Sears turnover (lost ball) (Henry Coleman III steals) | |||
2:33 | +2 | Henry Coleman III makes two point layup (Wade Taylor IV assists) | 30-43 | |
2:14 | Mark Sears misses two point layup | |||
2:12 | Aaron Estrada offensive rebound | |||
2:06 | +3 | Mark Sears makes three point jump shot (Mohamed Wague assists) | 30-46 | |
1:51 | +3 | Wade Taylor IV makes three point jump shot | 33-46 | |
1:46 | Crimson Tide 30 second timeout | |||
1:21 | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | |||
1:19 | Jace Carter defensive rebound | |||
0:59 | Tyrece Radford misses three point jump shot | |||
0:57 | Solomon Washington offensive rebound | |||
0:55 | Wade Taylor IV misses three point jump shot | |||
0:53 | Jarin Stevenson defensive rebound | |||
0:46 | +2 | Rylan Griffen makes two point layup | 33-48 | |
0:46 | Wade Taylor IV shooting foul | |||
0:46 | +1 | Rylan Griffen makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 33-49 | |
0:29 | +2 | Solomon Washington makes two point layup | 35-49 | |
0:03 | Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot | |||
0:02 | Sam Walters offensive rebound | |||
0:01 | Sam Walters turnover (out of bounds) | |||
0:00 | End of period |