Nelson powers No. 13 Alabama to 98-93, overtime win over No. 24 Florida
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) With the outright Southeastern Conference lead in jeopardy, Alabama dug out of a double-digit hole before finally taking control in overtime.
Grant Nelson had 22 points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots and No. 13 Alabama started fast in OT to beat newly ranked No. 24 Florida 98-93 on Wednesday night.
The Crimson Tide (19-7, 11-2 SEC) scored the first seven points of overtime and held on to preserve their perch atop the league standings over No. 5 Tennessee after a shootout between two of the nation's top 10 scoring teams.
Alabama coach Nate Oats said he was “still not quite sure how we figured out how to win it.”
“We're figuring out ways to win games,” Oats said. “If you're going to win league championships, which we're obviously in the hunt for with five games left, these are the games that you've got to figure out ways to win when you don't play well.”
Aaron Estrada scored on a follow shot with 7 seconds left after Sam Walters kept the ball alive. Estrada finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and four steals.
Walter Clayton Jr. led Florida with 27 points but missed a potential tying 3-pointer at the end. Alabama's Mark Sears collected the rebound, drew an immediate foul and made two free throws.
Florida (18-8, 8-5) didn’t score in overtime until Clayton made a pair of free throws with 2:28 left, and he got two more on the next possession to pull the Gators within 92-89. Sears stripped the ball from Clayton on a drive to the basket and Rylan Griffen made two foul shots.
Alex Condon's short jumper cut it to 94-93 with 36 seconds left. Estrada snared the rebound after Griffen's missed 3. But the Gators appeared in charge much of the game after their first ranking under coach Todd Golden.
“I think we have a chance at a really special end of the year," Golden said. "Even though we came up short tonight, I think our effort indicates that.”
Alabama opened the extra period with two baskets by Estrada sandwiched around Griffen’s 3-pointer.
Alabama had six players score in double figures. Sears had 17 points and eight of Alabama's 19 assists.
Walters had 14 points and four 3-pointers. Nick Pringle scored 13 points before fouling out in overtime and Griffen scored 10. And Nelson had what Oats called “probably” his best game with the Tide.
Clayton also had eight rebounds and five assists. Zyon Pullin and Will Richard scored 17 apiece for Florida, Tyrese Samuel had 14 and Condon 10.
The Tide had rallied from a 10-point deficit over the final 9 minutes of regulation.
Both teams missed potential winning shots on their final possessions of regulation, sending it to overtime tied at 85-85. Micah Handlogten blocked Sears’ layup attempt at the buzzer.
It was the first time since 2007 the teams had met when both were ranked.
Alabama was without starting guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr., out with a head injury sustained on Monday.
“I felt like I had to step up, because losing a great shooter like that is definitely hard on our team," Walters said. “I’m glad we fought through.”
BIG PICTURE
Florida: Had entered the rankings for the first time since December 2021 on Monday. Micah Handlogten had 13 rebounds and three blocks.
Alabama: The SEC's most prolific 3-point shooting team made just one of its first 17 attempts from 3 but finished 8 of 32. The Tide have won 16 straight SEC home games.
UP NEXT Florida hosts Vanderbilt on Saturday.
Alabama visits No. 17 Kentucky on Saturday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Micah Handlogten vs. Grant Nelson (Gators gains possession) | |||
19:43 | Micah Handlogten misses two point jump shot | |||
19:41 | Micah Handlogten offensive rebound | |||
19:39 | Micah Handlogten turnover (lost ball) (Jarin Stevenson steals) | |||
19:28 | Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot | |||
19:26 | Tyrese Samuel defensive rebound | |||
19:11 | Tyrese Samuel misses two point jump shot | |||
19:09 | Crimson Tide defensive rebound | |||
18:56 | Jarin Stevenson misses three point jump shot | |||
18:54 | Aaron Estrada offensive rebound | |||
18:51 | Micah Handlogten blocks Grant Nelson's two point layup | |||
18:49 | Grant Nelson offensive rebound | |||
18:48 | Tyrese Samuel shooting foul (Grant Nelson draws the foul) | |||
18:48 | Grant Nelson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
18:48 | +1 | Grant Nelson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 0-1 | |
18:36 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
18:35 | Micah Handlogten offensive rebound | |||
18:35 | Grant Nelson personal foul | |||
18:31 | +2 | Tyrese Samuel makes two point dunk (Micah Handlogten assists) | 2-1 | |
18:15 | +2 | Grant Nelson makes two point hook shot | 2-3 | |
18:04 | Tyrese Samuel misses two point jump shot | |||
18:02 | Mark Sears defensive rebound | |||
17:57 | Walter Clayton Jr. blocks Mark Sears's two point driving layup | |||
17:55 | Tyrese Samuel defensive rebound | |||
17:35 | +2 | Tyrese Samuel makes two point dunk (Micah Handlogten assists) | 4-3 | |
17:20 | +2 | Grant Nelson makes two point driving dunk (Mark Sears assists) | 4-5 | |
17:02 | Grant Nelson blocks Tyrese Samuel's two point layup | |||
17:00 | Mark Sears defensive rebound | |||
16:51 | Jarin Stevenson misses three point jump shot | |||
16:49 | Walter Clayton Jr. defensive rebound | |||
16:27 | Grant Nelson blocks Tyrese Samuel's two point layup | |||
16:25 | Mark Sears defensive rebound | |||
16:15 | Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot | |||
16:14 | Rylan Griffen offensive rebound | |||
16:14 | Will Richard personal foul | |||
16:12 | +2 | Grant Nelson makes two point dunk (Aaron Estrada assists) | 4-7 | |
15:44 | +2 | Micah Handlogten makes two point hook shot | 6-7 | |
15:33 | Nick Pringle misses two point alley-oop dunk | |||
15:31 | Nick Pringle offensive rebound | |||
15:26 | Nick Pringle misses two point jump shot | |||
15:24 | Micah Handlogten defensive rebound | |||
15:20 | +3 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes three point jump shot (Zyon Pullin assists) | 9-7 | |
15:10 | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point driving reverse layup | 9-9 | |
14:52 | Will Richard misses three point jump shot | |||
14:50 | Aaron Estrada defensive rebound | |||
14:44 | Sam Walters misses three point jump shot | |||
14:42 | Tyrese Samuel defensive rebound | |||
14:37 | +2 | Will Richard makes two point driving layup (Tyrese Samuel assists) | 11-9 | |
14:14 | +3 | Sam Walters makes three point jump shot (Mark Sears assists) | 11-12 | |
14:00 | Will Richard misses three point jump shot | |||
13:58 | Mark Sears defensive rebound | |||
13:48 | Mark Sears misses three point jump shot | |||
13:46 | Tyrese Samuel defensive rebound | |||
13:38 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
13:36 | Micah Handlogten offensive rebound | |||
13:26 | +3 | Will Richard makes three point jump shot (Zyon Pullin assists) | 14-12 | |
13:13 | +2 | Nick Pringle makes two point alley-oop layup (Aaron Estrada assists) | 14-14 | |
12:48 | Tyrese Samuel misses two point hook shot | |||
12:46 | Mark Sears defensive rebound | |||
12:37 | +2 | Mark Sears makes two point driving layup | 14-16 | |
12:16 | Grant Nelson blocks Tyrese Samuel's two point hook shot | |||
12:14 | Tyrese Samuel offensive rebound | |||
12:08 | +3 | Zyon Pullin makes three point jump shot (Tyrese Samuel assists) | 17-16 | |
11:56 | Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot | |||
11:54 | Zyon Pullin defensive rebound | |||
11:52 | Zyon Pullin turnover (lost ball) (Aaron Estrada steals) | |||
11:48 | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point driving reverse layup | 17-18 | |
11:30 | +3 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes three point jump shot (Tyrese Samuel assists) | 20-18 | |
11:16 | Mark Sears misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
11:12 | Gators defensive rebound | |||
11:12 | TV timeout | |||
10:48 | Riley Kugel turnover (traveling) | |||
10:48 | TV timeout | |||
10:35 | Mohamed Wague misses two point layup | |||
10:33 | Mouhamed Dioubate offensive rebound | |||
10:30 | Mouhamed Dioubate misses two point layup | |||
10:28 | Riley Kugel defensive rebound | |||
10:24 | Will Richard misses three point jump shot | |||
10:22 | Mark Sears defensive rebound | |||
10:13 | +2 | Mouhamed Dioubate makes two point driving floating jump shot | 20-20 | |
9:58 | +2 | Will Richard makes two point dunk (Thomas Haugh assists) | 22-20 | |
9:31 | Jarin Stevenson misses three point jump shot | |||
9:29 | Jarin Stevenson offensive rebound | |||
9:25 | Alex Condon personal foul | |||
9:20 | Mouhamed Dioubate misses three point jump shot | |||
9:18 | Alex Condon defensive rebound | |||
9:10 | Rylan Griffen personal foul | |||
8:56 | Thomas Haugh misses three point jump shot | |||
8:54 | Mouhamed Dioubate defensive rebound | |||
8:48 | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | |||
8:46 | Mouhamed Dioubate offensive rebound | |||
8:42 | Mouhamed Dioubate turnover (lost ball) (Will Richard steals) | |||
8:41 | Mouhamed Dioubate flagrant 1 | |||
8:41 | +1 | Will Richard makes flagrant free throw 1 of 2 | 23-20 | |
8:41 | +1 | Will Richard makes flagrant free throw 2 of 2 | 24-20 | |
8:30 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
8:28 | Rylan Griffen defensive rebound | |||
8:21 | Rylan Griffen turnover (bad pass) (Walter Clayton Jr. steals) | |||
8:15 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
8:13 | Gators offensive rebound | |||
8:07 | +3 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes three point jump shot (Alex Condon assists) | 27-20 | |
7:51 | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point driving floating jump shot | 27-22 | |
7:44 | Nick Pringle personal foul (Denzel Aberdeen draws the foul) | |||
7:44 | TV timeout | |||
7:30 | Grant Nelson blocks Walter Clayton Jr.'s three point jump shot | |||
7:27 | Gators offensive rebound | |||
7:26 | +2 | Will Richard makes two point jump shot (Walter Clayton Jr. assists) | 29-22 | |
7:08 | Nick Pringle misses two point layup | |||
7:06 | Aaron Estrada offensive rebound | |||
7:06 | Denzel Aberdeen personal foul | |||
7:05 | Mark Sears misses three point jump shot | |||
7:03 | Will Richard defensive rebound | |||
6:37 | Nick Pringle shooting foul (Micah Handlogten draws the foul) | |||
6:37 | +1 | Micah Handlogten makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-22 | |
6:37 | Micah Handlogten misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
6:37 | Mouhamed Dioubate defensive rebound | |||
6:25 | Mouhamed Dioubate misses three point jump shot | |||
6:23 | Sam Walters offensive rebound | |||
6:19 | +2 | Sam Walters makes two point putback layup | 30-24 | |
5:58 | Denzel Aberdeen misses three point jump shot | |||
5:56 | Mouhamed Dioubate defensive rebound | |||
5:42 | Denzel Aberdeen personal foul | |||
5:33 | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point driving layup | 30-26 | |
5:24 | +2 | Zyon Pullin makes two point floating jump shot | 32-26 | |
5:12 | Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot | |||
5:10 | Micah Handlogten defensive rebound | |||
5:05 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
5:03 | Grant Nelson defensive rebound | |||
4:56 | +2 | Grant Nelson makes two point layup | 32-28 | |
4:40 | Sam Walters blocks Walter Clayton Jr.'s two point driving layup | |||
4:39 | Gators offensive rebound | |||
4:36 | Grant Nelson personal foul | |||
4:29 | Mohamed Wague shooting foul (Denzel Aberdeen draws the foul) | |||
4:29 | +1 | Denzel Aberdeen makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 33-28 | |
4:29 | Denzel Aberdeen misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
4:29 | Sam Walters defensive rebound | |||
4:18 | Aaron Estrada turnover (lost ball) (Denzel Aberdeen steals) | |||
3:57 | Zyon Pullin misses two point jump shot | |||
3:55 | Mohamed Wague defensive rebound | |||
3:47 | Denzel Aberdeen personal foul | |||
3:47 | TV timeout | |||
3:42 | +2 | Mark Sears makes two point driving layup | 33-30 | |
3:27 | +2 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes two point driving layup | 35-30 | |
3:18 | Thomas Haugh personal foul (Rylan Griffen draws the foul) | |||
3:18 | +1 | Rylan Griffen makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-31 | |
3:18 | +1 | Rylan Griffen makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-32 | |
3:04 | +2 | Alex Condon makes two point hook shot (Thomas Haugh assists) | 37-32 | |
2:56 | Jarin Stevenson misses two point layup | |||
2:54 | Jarin Stevenson offensive rebound | |||
2:51 | Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot | |||
2:48 | Rylan Griffen offensive rebound | |||
2:48 | Thomas Haugh blocks Rylan Griffen's two point jump shot | |||
2:43 | Mouhamed Dioubate offensive rebound | |||
2:41 | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | |||
2:37 | Aaron Estrada offensive rebound | |||
2:33 | +3 | Rylan Griffen makes three point jump shot (Aaron Estrada assists) | 37-35 | |
2:09 | +2 | Thomas Haugh makes two point layup (Alex Condon assists) | 39-35 | |
1:53 | +2 | Mark Sears makes two point layup | 39-37 | |
1:41 | +2 | Walter Clayton Jr. makes two point layup (Alex Condon assists) | 41-37 | |
1:40 | Gators 30 second timeout | |||
1:29 | Nick Pringle misses two point dunk | |||
1:27 | Walter Clayton Jr. defensive rebound | |||
1:19 | Zyon Pullin misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
1:17 | Alex Condon offensive rebound | |||
0:55 | Zyon Pullin misses three point jump shot | |||
0:53 | Aaron Estrada defensive rebound | |||
0:45 | Nick Pringle turnover (lost ball) | |||
0:22 | Zyon Pullin misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
0:19 | Gators offensive rebound | |||
0:03 | Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
0:01 | Jarin Stevenson defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |