LEXINGTON, Ky. โ Grant Nelson shone with 25 points and 11 rebounds as the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide triumphed over the No. 8 Kentucky Wildcats with a close score of 102-97 in a thrilling encounter on Saturday. This matchup featured two of the nationโs leading offensive teams showcasing their skills throughout the game.
Nelson displayed remarkable shooting by hitting 7 of his 13 attempts from the field and accumulating a commendable 9 out of 10 from the free-throw line. His performance was particularly noteworthy considering he had managed only 21 points in the three games prior.
Mark Sears contributed significantly to Alabamaโs victory, scoring 16 of his 24 points in a strong second-half push. The Crimson Tide, improving their record to 15-3 overall and 4-1 in the SEC, had a total of five players finish in double digits for points.
For Kentucky, now 14-4 overall and 3-2 in conference play, Otega Oweh led the Wildcats with 21 points, while Lamont Butler added 17 points along with eight assists. The Wildcats came into this matchup on a two-game winning streak, following a previous loss to Georgia by a score of 82-69.
At one point in the game, Kentucky took a brief 56-52 advantage following a dunk from Brandon Garrison with 16:13 left on the clock. However, Alabama quickly retaliated, going on a significant 14-2 run to regain control.
Sears ignited this pivotal run with a jumper, further assisting by setting up Aden Holloway for a three-pointer that expanded Alabamaโs lead to 66-58 with 12:33 left in the game.
A key moment came after Garrisonโs dunk created an 81-81 tie; Labaron Philon stepped up for Alabama, scoring five points in a swift 9-0 run.
Notably, Alabamaโs ability to force Kentucky, typically strong from beyond the arc, to drive towards the basket proved critical in the second half. From three-point range, Alabama made 13 out of 34 attempts, while Kentucky managed 11 of 27.
Looking ahead, Alabama is set to host Vanderbilt on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Kentucky will have a week to prepare before facing Vanderbilt next Saturday.