Mark Sears led No. 5 Alabama to a dominant 107-79 victory over No. 12 Oklahoma in the SEC opener for both teams. Sears showcased his skills with 22 points and 10 assists, setting the pace for the Crimson Tide’s impressive performance. Labaron Philon contributed 16 points, while Grant Nelson recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Clifford Omoruyi and Aden Holloway each added 10 points to secure the win for Alabama, who improved to 12-2 overall and 1-0 in the SEC.
On the other side, Jalon Moore led the way for Oklahoma with 20 points, followed by Jeremiah Fears with 16 points and Sam Godwin with 15 points. Kobe Elvis and Duke Miles also made significant contributions with 13 and 10 points, respectively, for the Sooners, who suffered their first loss of the season, falling to 13-1 overall and 0-1 in the SEC.
Alabama took control early in the game, establishing a 12-6 lead after a 3-pointer from Sears. The Crimson Tide dominated the offensive glass, finishing with a 22-8 advantage in offensive rebounds and outscoring Oklahoma 25-4 in second-chance points. Despite briefly trailing for only 16 seconds, Alabama’s strong rebounding and defensive efforts gave them a comfortable lead throughout the game.
In their inaugural SEC matchup, Oklahoma struggled offensively in the first half, shooting 35.3 percent from the field and only making 1-of-8 3-point attempts. Alabama’s defense was stout, registering five blocks and four steals in the opening half. Nelson’s creativity on offense was on display as he set up Omoruyi for an emphatic alley-oop dunk, extending Alabama’s lead to 19-11.
Derrion Reid’s explosive one-handed slam further fueled Alabama’s momentum, as they surged to a 37-19 advantage. Despite missing a previous game due to an ankle injury, Reid showcased his athleticism with a highlight-reel dunk, showcasing his potential as a five-star freshman for the Crimson Tide.
Oklahoma managed to cut into Alabama’s lead late in the first half, with Godwin’s dunk reducing the deficit to 48-29 at halftime. The Sooners showed signs of life early in the second half, capitalizing on a steal to score a fast-break layup courtesy of Moore. However, Alabama responded swiftly, with Nelson knocking down a stepback 3-pointer to stretch their lead to 51-31.
Despite Oklahoma’s efforts to mount a comeback, the Crimson Tide maintained control, with the closest the Sooners came being 72-53 after Fears’ jumper midway through the second half. Alabama’s balanced scoring attack and defensive resolve proved too much for Oklahoma to overcome, as they secured a convincing victory to start their SEC campaign on a high note.
The clash between Alabama and Oklahoma showcased
