Alabama basketball has swept Kentucky for the first time since the 2020-2021 season and has gotten back on track after losing its previous two games.
Alabama basketball moved to 11-3 in the SEC with a 96-83 win over Kentucky at home in its annual whiteout game in front of a sold-out Coleman Coliseum. Head coach Nate Oats passed former Alabama coach Wimp Sanderson for the most top 25 wins in program history in six years at the helm at the Capstone.
“We don’t like losing,” said Mark Sears.
ESPN’s Dick Vitale called the game on television after missing the last two seasons from the mic and received an ovation before the game from all the fans in attendance.
ESPN’s Dick Vitale receives a standing ovation before the game. pic.twitter.com/VgbauMjwGC
— Blue Collar Bama Review (@BamaCBBReview) February 22, 2025
“I thought our guys did a good job once we dug ourselves a hole. Got to give Kentucky a ton of credit to come out like they did,” said Oats
Alabama had 15 turnovers on the night with 14 assists.
Clifford Omoruyi recorded his first double-double with 11 points and a season-high in rebounds with 15 to lead the team. Omoruyi took home the hard hat for tonight’s game.
Chris Youngblood had a big second half from downtown, 3-3 in the second half, and finished the game with 14 points.
“They are a terrific team,” said Kentucky head coach Mark Pope on Alabama.
Takeaway #1: Mark Sears and Aden Holloway dominate
After the 35-point performance on Wednesday, Mark Sears continued to be dominant with back-to-back 30-plus point games for the first time in his career, with 30 points shooting 8-17 from the floor. Despite only shooting 3-8 from three, Sears had his way around the lanes and got to the free throw line, where he was a perfect 11-11 on the evening.
“Sears is playing the best basketball I have seen him play on both sides of the ball,” said Oats on Sears.
Labaron Philon being inserted into the starting lineup has allowed Sears to play off the ball and not have so much pressure.
“You need to trust him like you did Aaron (Estrada) last year. You’re gonna score more points on fewer shots,” said Oats.
Aden Holloway continues to be a walking bucket off the bench for the Tide with a 19-point game and was able to knock down big-time threes whether catch and shoot or on the dribble, going 5-12 from downtown and continues to provide the spark as the sixth-man off the bench.
Takeaway #2: Koby Brea and Andrew Carr carry the Wildcats
The Tide defensively held leading scorer Otega Oweh in check and held to a season-low of two points after scoring double-digits in every game of the season up until tonight.
Koby Brea stepped up in Oweh’s poor night offensively and was on fire early from deep with 11 points on 3-5 shooting in the first half. and was able to finish with 20 points and had to be the guy to lead the charge without Jaxson Robinson and Lamont Butler. Brea remains one of the best shooters of the three in the country.
Takeaway #3: Alabama’s big run to end the first half
Alabama came out flat in the first 11 minutes of the game, where it was down as much as 12 points, and after a Holloway three at the nine-minute mark, the team went on a 29-10 run to hold Kentucky to 40 points on the half after scoring 16 points in the first four minutes.
The Tide led the rest of the way and could go into half up by seven points. Defensively, the Tide held Kentucky to 0.8 points per possession after the first four minutes in the first half.
Alabama’s bad starts to the game continue to be a problem. For the third straight game, Alabama had to come from behind double-digits in the first four minutes of the game but was able to get back in the game quickly.
Despite the seven turnovers in the first half, Alabama forced Kentucky to six turnovers and forced three straight turnovers in the first half, which got the crowd on its feet.
Next up for Alabama basketball (22-5, 11-3): vs. Mississippi State (19-8, 7-7) – Feb. 25 at 9 p.m. EST
Next up for Kentucky basketball (20-6, 9-4): at Oklahoma (17-10, 4-10) – Feb. 26 at 9 p.m. EST
[…] basketball is coming off a big bounce-back performance in a 96-83 win over Kentucky on Saturday. The Tide have owned Mississippi State, winning the last seven […]