In a high-scoring Southeastern Conference showdown on Saturday, January 18, 2025, the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide triumphed over the No. 8 Kentucky Wildcats with a final score of 102-97 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
Alabama’s offense was spearheaded by graduate forward Grant Nelson, who delivered a double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Graduate guard Mark Sears also made a significant impact, contributing 24 points and dishing out nine assists. Freshman guard Labaron Philon added 15 points, while graduate center Clifford Omoruyi and graduate guard Chris Youngblood chipped in with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
The game commenced with Alabama asserting early dominance, establishing a 10-point lead within the first five minutes. However, Kentucky responded with a 12-2 run, equalizing the score midway through the first half. The teams continued to exchange leads, culminating in a narrow 50-48 advantage for Alabama at halftime.
In the second half, the Wildcats briefly seized a 58-57 lead. Nevertheless, the Crimson Tide orchestrated a pivotal 9-0 run, highlighted by consecutive three-pointers from Aden Holloway and Mark Sears, reclaiming a 66-58 lead. This surge proved instrumental in shifting the game’s momentum in Alabama’s favor.
Kentucky’s offense showcased balance, with seven players scoring in double figures. Junior guard Otega Oweh led the Wildcats with 21 points before fouling out, while graduate guard Lamont Butler contributed 17 points and eight assists. Despite shooting 47.9% from the field and 40.7% from beyond the arc, the Wildcats were unable to surmount Alabama’s offensive prowess.
Alabama’s efficiency was evident, as they connected on 44.8% of their field goal attempts and 38.2% of their three-point shots. A notable advantage was their performance at the free-throw line, where they converted 29 of 34 attempts (85.3%), compared to Kentucky’s 16 of 20 (80%).
Postgame, Alabama head coach Nate Oats commended his team’s resilience and recovery from Tuesday’s defeat at home against Ole Miss, stating, “Couldn’t be more proud of the group of guys after the poor showing on Tuesday. To bounce back and play the way we did here today because this is a really good team we beat. They (Kentucky) are a high-powered offensive team and we gave them too many threes late but until then I thought we had done a pretty good job.”
Conversely, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope acknowledged the need for defensive improvements, noting, “I felt like towards the end we didn’t execute our defense well and that’s what ended up hurting us. We played our game for the part but then it was just going back and forth and that made us lose focus.””
This victory elevated Alabama’s record to 15-3 overall and 4-1 in SEC play. The Crimson Tide will next host the LSU Tigers on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at Coleman Coliseum.
Article by TideFans.com