Despite a sluggish start, No. 24 Alabama managed to stage a comeback, securing an 85-76 victory against Georgia in a Southeastern Conference clash in Athens, Ga., on Wednesday night. Mark Sears overcame the initial setback, finishing with 23 points, while Grant Nelson’s crucial 3-pointers contributed to his 20-point performance. The duo played a pivotal role, scoring 19 of the Crimson Tide’s final 21 points.
Alabama (15-6, 7-1 SEC) showcased resilience, shooting 62.5 percent in the second half and orchestrating a 15-3 run that propelled them to their first lead. Sears, with eight points during the surge, including five consecutive points, led Alabama to a 71-66 advantage with 3:40 left. Despite Georgia’s attempts to close the gap, Alabama’s strong finish secured the victory.
RJ Melendez and Noah Thomasson led Georgia (14-7, 4-4) with 15 points each, but the team struggled with 19 turnovers, which Alabama exploited for 19 points. Melendez added 10 rebounds and three steals, Russel Tchewa contributed 10 points and nine boards, and Silas Demary Jr. chipped in 10 points.
Despite a challenging start where Alabama made only two of their first 12 shots, they rebounded to finish at 53.3 percent from the field. The Crimson Tide recovered from a 2-for-11 performance beyond the arc in the first half to go 8-for-23 (34.8 percent) from deep. Holding the distinction of being the nation’s highest-scoring team in Division I with an average of 89.7 points per game, Alabama showcased defensive prowess, limiting Georgia to 44.3 percent shooting overall and a 7-for-17 performance from 3-point range.
The Bulldogs capitalized on Alabama’s early struggles, embarking on a 13-0 run to build a 17-2 lead. Despite the Crimson Tide narrowing the deficit at times, Georgia maintained control, heading into halftime with a 41-27 advantage after Thomasson’s jumper.
