Clutch Mark Sears Carries No. 5 Alabama Past No. 10 Texas A&M With Late Free Throws
Clutch Mark Sears Carries No. 5 Alabama Past No. 10 Texas A&M With Late Free Throws
Mark Sears buried two free throws with 7.1 seconds remaining to give No. 5 Alabama a thrilling 69-68 victory over No. 10 Texas A&M on Friday at Reed Arena in College Station, Texas.
The Aggies, who led by nine points with just over eight minutes remaining, had a chance to tie the game with 4.2 seconds left but Dexter Dennis' 3-point attempt rimmed out. Alabama escaped with the narrow victory and improved to 14-2 overall and 4-0 in the Southeastern Conference.
Sears' Heroics
Sears, a transfer from Ohio, was the hero for the Crimson Tide. The 6-foot-1 guard finished with a team-high 20 points, including 10 in the final 6:30 of the game. He also hit the game-winning free throws after being fouled by Dennis.
"Mark Sears is a winner," Alabama coach Nate Oats said. "He's a guy who makes big plays in big moments. He's a clutch player."
Turnovers Cost Aggies
Texas A&M, which fell to 13-3 overall and 3-1 in the SEC, committed 17 turnovers that led to 19 Alabama points. The Aggies also struggled to shoot the ball, making just 39.7% from the field.
"We had too many turnovers," Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams said. "We had 17 turnovers against a good team. We also missed some open shots. We just didn't play well enough to win."
Key Stats
| Alabama | Texas A&M | |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 69 | 68 |
| Field Goal Percentage | 44.1 | 39.7 |
| 3-Point Field Goal Percentage | 28.6 | 31.3 |
| Free Throw Percentage | 72.2 | 61.1 |
| Rebounds | 34 | 31 |
| Assists | 13 | 11 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 17 |
| Blocks | 5 | 3 |
| Steals | 5 | 9 |
Different Perspectives
Conclusion
Mark Sears was the hero for No. 5 Alabama on Friday night, leading the Crimson Tide to a thrilling 69-68 victory over No. 10 Texas A&M. The win improved Alabama to 14-2 overall and 4-0 in the SEC, while Texas A&M fell to 13-3 overall and 3-1 in the SEC.
The game was a tale of two halves. Texas A&M led by nine points with just over eight minutes remaining, but Alabama rallied back to take the lead with just over a minute remaining. Sears' two free throws with 7.1 seconds remaining proved to be the difference.
The victory was a big one for Alabama, which is now one of the favorites to win the SEC Championship. The Crimson Tide will be back in action on Tuesday when they host LSU.
Texas A&M will look to bounce back on Wednesday when they host South Carolina.
Reflection
The Alabama-Texas A&M game was a great example of how quickly momentum can change in college basketball. The Aggies led by nine points with just over eight minutes remaining, but the Crimson Tide rallied back to take the lead with just over a minute remaining. Sears' two free throws with 7.1 seconds remaining proved to be the difference.
The victory was a big one for Alabama, which is now one of the favorites to win the SEC Championship. The Crimson Tide have a lot of talent and experience, and they are playing with a lot of confidence.
Texas A&M will look to bounce back on Wednesday when they host South Carolina. The Aggies have a lot of talent, and they are still a contender in the SEC. However, they need to find a way to cut down on their turnovers and improve their shooting.