Alabama Triumphs Over Houston in Overtime Thriller at Players Era Festival
LAS VEGAS (AP) — In a dramatic clash on Tuesday night, No. 9 Alabama defeated No. 6 Houston 85-80 in overtime, marking an exciting start to the Players Era Festival. Mark Sears led the Tide with 24 points, showcasing his prowess in a closely contested matchup.
After Alabama had established a commanding eight-point lead with just under nine minutes remaining, Houston rallied to force overtime, highlighted by LJ Cryer, who scored a career-high 30 points, leading all scorers. With only two seconds left in regulation, Cryer narrowly missed a potential game-winner, sealing the game’s fate for the Cougars.
Alabama’s roster shined with additional contributions from Grant Nelson, who recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Mouhamed Dioubate secured 10 points and an impressive 16 rebounds. For Houston, Emanuel Sharp scored 14 points, and J’Wan Roberts chipped in 11, although Sharp’s previously stellar 3-point shooting did not shine through as he hit just 2 of 6 from beyond the arc.
A pivotal moment came in overtime when, with 24 seconds left and Alabama leading 84-80, Derrion Reid blocked a critical shot from Houston’s Joseph Tugler. Following a foul on Reid, he sank one of two free throws, effectively sealing the victory.
Alabama capitalized on their free-throw opportunities, converting 30 out of 41 attempts, while fouls plagued Houston with five players accumulating four or five fouls throughout the game, leading to the disqualification of Sharp and Milos Uzan.
Looking ahead, Alabama will face Rutgers in the second round of the festival while Houston will take on Notre Dame.
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Photo credit aldailynews.com
